The course notes begin with a brief introduction to textiles through history. Concepts include:
- High value based in the skill, labour and materials involved in production
- Moved between cultures in trade and exchange
- Technology and skilled workmen also travelled
- Uses include ritual, art, personal identity
- Meaning in symbols and colours
- Significant in economies, vulnerable to political events
- Mass production and globalisation – loss of symbolic meaning; rapid turnover
In summary textiles “reveal insight into the time, place, culture and socio-economic conditions underlying their production” (OCA course notes).
For this project we are asked to research a design from a particular culture, to use as inspiration in our own work. Keen to work from original sources, I am taking advantage of a current exhibition at the Australian Museum and have chosen the Aztecs (see australianmuseum.net.au/landing/aztecs/ for the museum site).
Before visiting the exhibition I knew little about the Aztec – basically a central american people, warlike, given to ritual human sacrifice, short-lived empire ended by invading Spanish.Some new (to me) information, largely based on signage at the museum, that I might be able to develop:
More photographs of the exhibition can be seen on a new Resource page – click here.

Codex Ixtlilxochitl (detail)
http://www.famsi.org/research/graz
/ixtlilxochitl/img_page100r.html
From these initial steps I am feeling very positive about my choice of the Aztec culture as my focus. The lack of original textiles is disappointing, especially after the wonderful samples included in the Gold and the Incas exhibition at the National Gallery earlier this year – see for example here. I also have books with illustrations of early Peruvian textiles. The assignment requirements allow for looking at a number of cultures, but I think I should be able to find more than enough inspiration “limiting” myself to the Aztecs. I already see possibilities for both saleable products and more conceptual work, but will try to keep a very open mind as I continue research.
T1-E1:P1-p1-s1 Choosing a subject – Aztec culture
Textiles 1 – Exploring Ideas
Part 1: Cultural fusions
Project 1: Interpreting cultural sources
Stage 1: Researching source material
Choosing a subject – Aztec culture
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