ISABELLA DUCROT

“Textiles and paper are the cornerstones of Isabella Ducrot’s practice. Fabrics indicate intimacy and touch, worn directly on the skin, while paper can either contain and protect or be the carrier of new signs. In weaving as well as writing, patterns and repetition can give way to unique and original expressions.

From her extensive travels over four decades, visiting Afghanistan, Iran, India, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, Tibet, amongst other countries, Ducrot has gathered a unique collection of textiles and paper dating from the 9th to 20th centuries. Though Ducrot only began painting (and writing) relatively late in life, motifs and elements from these collections and their cultures now make their way into her work, at times glued, stitched directly, or painted onto the image ground.

Black and coloured inks brushed over the surface outline elemental landscapes, erotically intertwined figures, teapots, flowers in vases, and checkered cloths. From intimate drawings to works the scale of a tapestry, Ducrot’s work reflects a material and philosophical interest in the repetition of motifs like prayers, or the rhythm of breath.”

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Isabella Ducrot (b. 1931, Naples, Italy) lives and works in Rome.

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