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About Dilana
| Artisan & Artist |
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The Christchurch Arts Centre environment was the initiation of what is now Dilana's design base. When fine artists began to influence the design portfolio, the rug makers had to rethink their modus operandi and come to terms with the "process of collaboration" whereby technical expert and artist work together. Rather than rug maker following a colour design instituted by the artist, there is an
interplay of skills and influences. When an artist can let the textile take on its own
properties and when the changes that must occur within the medium are captured,
a good work becomes a great work. |
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| From The Land |
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Dilana is closely affiliated with New Zealand's wool industry - both historically and today. Hugh Bannerman, the founder of the company worked on his family's sheep farm in the province of Southland until he was in his early twenties. His involvement then, was primarily in the selection and breeding of sheep for their wool for the carpet industry. In early 1980, Bannerman moved to Christchurch to further his studies in woollen textiles and consequently began his initial rug making business. By 1983, with support and assistance from the wool industry, in particular, wool research testing laboratories, he had identified and established the quality of products he wanted. The same quality of wool is used today. Hugh Bannerman was the first rug maker in Australia or New Zealand to be granted the International Wool Secretariat "Woolmark" label for quality. Two years were spent training skilled rug makers and developing a local base. By 1985
Dilana had established gallery space with the Christchurch Arts Centre. |
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| This Is Today |
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In just over a decade almost all production from Dilana's six rug makers is designed by fine artists, either as unique pieces or limited editions for exhibitions, or designs commissioned for specific floor areas. The shift in emphasis from product to design has been a natural progression given the influence of the fine artists, who are in turn influenced by the unique and wonderful isolation of this southern ocean environment. "In the normal sense the artist is concerned with making works which must operate aesthetically; the question of function other than in the aesthetic sense is seldom an issue. An artist, when stepping outside this usual role, will proceed from assumptions rather different from those which govern the function influenced by designer." "It is not enough for the artist to simply convert a painting or sculptural idea into a carpet... a profoundly different approach is called for... " The carpet will present problems and challenges of its own. It is for the artist to find these and to reveal a personal response to the possibilities of the decorative. "Here (is) art relating directly to architecture. Accessible, versatile... like the mosaics, the terrazzo, the parquet of other times." Don Peebles "Carpet is the medium. I like playing around with images and carpet has a nice form. You can re-create a landscape - you can walk in, around and on it." "I am also intent on making this art more accessible." Bing Dawe |
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| The
Belief |
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Dilana's Philosophy embraces principles of both art and function.
"We will facilitate an ongoing study of textile imagery for the
floor, its aesthetic function within a given environment and the artistic
properties of the textile within its own parameters. The medium is
the hand-tufted woollen textile." |
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