Jenny Manning

I have, since my studies in the 1980s, been obsessed with wrapping, knotting, tangling and constructing with rope, wool and other fibres. I created and made drawings of three dimensional wrapped and knotted structures during my sculpture degree and these forms have been referred to in my practice ever since.

Recently I have been exploring the parallels between human and animal veins, arteries and organs with those found in the plant and insect kingdoms. These networks for transmitting life fluids seem to be repeated in the microscopic world as well as in the structure of river deltas and erosion gullies. Electron microscopic images of fungi have stimulated a series of large black and white pen and ink drawings where the intricacy and beauty of the filamentous growth patterns belies their toxic effects on humans and animals.

In another body of work I have explored still life compositions creating images of overlapping natural forms and more recently the importance of design and mathematical proportion within the still life tradition. I continue to create brightly coloured knitted mohair rugs where the small square modules are combined to create intricate and complex traditional patchwork patterns.

‘Torus’ 2010
Medium: pen and ink on card
Size: H: 90cm x W:140cm

The Torus - a revolving circle around an axial void is defined here by a network of capillaries
and veins which carry energy to all living cells, thereby combining mathematical geometry with the patterns of natural growth.

Jennymanningdesigns.blogspot.com