Linen fabric and silver leaf on wood panel

25x25cm

The composition of Nesting Moon involves a piece of fabric passed down from the artist's paternal grandmother, a Trinidadian woman who collected African textiles with the intention of connecting with her roots. This personal cultural reference inspired the work, expanding on Clulow’s usual focus on their mother’s Transylvanian background.

Nesting Moon was created on a wooden board. The quilt itself was sewn together and then bonded onto the wooden frame. A patch of silver was gilded in the centre of the board so that when the fabric was placed over it, the metaphorical moon could shine through. The inclusion of silver leaf creates a reflective surface, playing with light and shadows within the piece. When viewed from different angles, the shadows within the moon can be interpreted as the celestial body’s waxing and waning throughout a lunar cycle. The use of a wooden board was essential to provide a proper base for the silver leaf, as it cannot be bonded to fabric or canvas, while also giving structure to the quilt and allowing it to be hung like a painting.