BRAIDED TRADITIONS: PHASE 2 TREE BOMBING

A second set of BGKC yarn bomb tree designs is to be launched at Endeavour Square, in collaboration with five individual knitwear designers.  Seven tree trunks will be yarn bombed by five BGKC knitwear designer members.  Each designer has responded to the brief of “ Braided Traditions: Common Threads.” Exploring various yarn textures and techniques to showcase their individual relationship with the subject of “hair” through knitting.

Yarn bombing tree designs crafted by: 

“Breanna” by Peju Obasa - @pejuobasa, - A yarn bombing homage to Breanna, my first Barbie doll. With Breanna, my fascination with braiding found its playground!

"Braids For My Girls" by Sheree Robinson - @Shereerarobinson -My yarn bombing features depictions of the dialogue, phrases, symbols, and pictures that make up our familiar hair language; it’s a love letter of joy to the hair of my daughter and sister. The work uses the knitting techniques of Braiding, Faire Isle, Colour Work and Beaded Knitting.

“Combing Through” by Mia Rodney - @allbitsknit - I encourage the viewer to interact with my yarn bombing through touch and feeling. The focus is on hair in its natural curly state, with nods to straightening hair. I explore these intricate curl patterns in my knits, with large hand knitted panels – crafted using relaxing repetitive movements – just like in hair braiding.

“Country Plant” by Fatima Duke-Pratt - @unduku_luku - My yarn bombing is an exploration of the colourful traditional hairstyles and hair accessories I wore in my childhood. In Krio, the most widely spoken language in Sierra Leone, ‘country plant’ describes a type of cornrow/braid that I have featured in my work.

“Gara ndiruke” (sit and let me braid) by Fadzi Sango - @ sinoia_. -My yarn bombing is inspired by the transformative joy of being able to explore fluctuating identity through my hair after my mother and nanny taught me. I wore many masks.

We would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the knitwear designers who have made this installation what it is by adding your story, it is important for us to spotlight your designs in such a public way. We loved seeing your interpretations and creative direction of this yarn bombing! Please see the gallery below:

All photography by @kings_art