“My work is about community,” says Bronwen Jones (1995). The artist is given items of clothing to repair or mend, and subsequently returns these to the wearers. She is thus engaging in a conversation about the value and care we attach to materials and craftsmanship. Jones furthermore questions ideas about sustainability and ownership. After all, most of the clothes she mends belong to other people. Whenever she participates in an exhibition, she borrows items she repaired earlier in order to show these. The result of this anti-capitalistic approach is a focus on the relationship between her and the item’s owner. “I’m experimenting with the way I do this exchange. Sometimes I request a conversation instead of money, for instance. I attach great value to relationships. I think it’s great that whenever I need a piece, I actually have to reach out to people.”
At Prospects Jones is showing some of these items of clothing as well as a number of more sculptural pieces. Also in these works, repairing instead of discarding is just as important as the social aspect of the textile community, which has a long history. The only difference with the clothes is that these sculptures cannot be worn as such, but do reflect the imaginary passage of time and wear. As Jones never conceals her repairs, but keeps them clearly visible, spectators will be prompted to consider the history of the material. Throughout the exhibition, the curators will be regularly wearing clothes that were repaired by the artist.
Text: Milo Vermeire
Translation from Dutch to English: Marie Louise Schoondergang