Illuminated Silk Screen

Dates
December 2001

Location
Retrouvius, 2A Ravensworth Road, Kensal Green, London NW10

Retrouvius in association with Genevieve Lilley launch their selling exhibition of illuminated silk screens from the Cole’s Collection.

200 silk screens were made redundant by the relocation of the Cole & Son Wallpaper Company (est. 1875). Print designs range from the figurative, through floral, to the shockingly abstract. Famous designers include Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, David Hicks and Lucienne Day.

In collaboration with the architect Genevieve Lilley, Retrouvius have explored the re-use potential of these delicate and translucent unique works of design. Back-lit they become richly coloured, expressive "paintings".

Included in the exhibition were several "scenics" – designs comprised of up to a dozen screens together forming one large scene. One such example is the "Garden of Delhi" by John Drummond, now gracing the walls of a famous actor’s Notting Hill home.

An architectural application for the silk screens that we experimented with was fusing the material between sheets of glass, to be used in doors, windows or space dividers.

There are still screens available for purchase, with prices starting at £75 + VAT.