melanie olde
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Recent work

​biomimicry 

Recent research and weaving inspired by biology, mathematics and 3 dimensional weaving.
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Auxetic Morph, 2022.
Bridges Aalto 2022
In August in Helsinki, I presented my peer-reviewed paper Creating Auxetic Structures in 3D Weaving at the Bridges Aalto 2022 Conference. Bridges is an international conference on mathematical connections in art, music, architecture, and culture. My work Auxetic Morph was accepted into the accompanying exhibition.
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Complexity 2022
This 3D multi-layered weaving is inspired by auxetic structures - those that expand in the perpendicular direction to the employed force. The three main cells of this work are auxetic in two dimensions, with the connecting areas morphing into concentric circular layers. 
1st place in the International Complexity 2022 exhibition; Complex Weavers Award.
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Complex Weavers Journal
My article, 3D Interlock Innovations, was published in the October 2021 issue of the Complex Weavers Journal. The article discusses my research and experiments in angle interlock layer-to-layer 3D weaving. The article includes a draft for a three layer interlock.
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3d auxetic structures
The images show experiments in weaving 3D multilayered auxetic structures.  Auxetic structures expand in the perpendicular direction to the applied force - the become larger a different direction to the one they're pulled in. When woven, the cloth is small and flat; when stretch out at the sides, the depth of the fabric pops up.
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Detail of Bio-Symmetry Vessel, 2021
sculpted cellular forms
Multilayered forms based on cellular form and repetition.

Paper yarn, nylon monofilament, 2021.
Two images below are part of my research work for my Masters at ANU School of Art & Design.
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pneumatic tube experiments
 This project was inspired by the capillaries in the stems of plants. These experiments were investigating different ways to create tubes in the warp direction.  Further testing involved integrating a pneumatic system in woven tubes which were connected and disconnected from the ground fabric.
Paper, nylon monofilament, 2021.
This work was part of my research work for my Masters at ANU School of Art & Design
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woven cellular drawing
Experiments in drawing cellular arrays in weaving using only plain weave and floats.

Nylon monofilament, 2021.
​This work was part of my research work for my Masters at ANU School of Art & Design.
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hexagonal cellular symmetry 
Inspiration for this piece came from plant cell packing, and the hexagonal structure this displays.  The 3D multi-layering creates a hyperbolic surface with hexagonal facets seen on the face and the depth of the fabric.
1st place in the International Complexity 2020 exhibition; Complex Weavers Award.
Silk, stainless steel, nylon monofilament, 2020.
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Hexagonal Cellular Symmetry, 2020.
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3D Weaving
These experiments are part of my research into 3D angle interlock, orthogonal and layer-to-layer interlock.  This involves multiple layers connected at every binding point to the adjacent layer.

Paper yarn, acrylic rod, 3D printed model.
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Perfect/Imperfect
During the Covid-19 2020 lockdown, ArtAviso sent artists an old encylopedia page.  Mine was an image showing a range of microscopic insect eggs.  The structure is hand manipulated lampas, using a Japanese technique of weaving fine strips of washi paper as a pattern weft.
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Hand-dyed silk, printed washi paper, 2020.
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Perfect/Imperfect, 2020
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historical research, analysis & experimental reconstruction

Historical weaving research and analysis contribute to my knowledge of structure and ingenuity. From my own collection of 1920s to 1960s industrial weaving journals I learned complex structures suitable for production and purpose. Most recently my historical research has focused on Chinese and Japanese weaving technology and complex structures from 2nd century BCE to the present. As part of this research I wove at the Koho Japanese Nishiki workshop in Kyoto, Japan. Read my blog post, The Makers' Marks about several Japanese sample books that I have been studying and researching, held at the National Library of Australia.
I continue to collect and study unusual woven fabrics discovered in the wild.
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1920s weaver's journal, private collection.
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Weaving nishiki (Japanese brocade) in Kyoto, Japan.
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Kinran nishiki sample (brocade woven with gold-lacquered paper) from the National Library of Australia, https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6846911
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Detail from analysis of a piece of heirloom Sonket, from the western part of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
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Analysing modern complex Japanese cloth.
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Experimental reconstruction of Japanese compound weave (lampas) woven with washi paper strips.
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Cellular Symmetry in Green, 2019.

​cellular symmetry in green

Plant cell packing has a clear algorithmic (though not quite perfect) packing structure, which Inspired this piece.  
This piece was exhibited in PopUp! by Miniartextil in Italy and France during 2019-2020.
Silk, stainless steel, hand-dyed nylon monofilatment, 2019.
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photo courtesy of Miniartextil.it

cellular symmetry in blue

Hand-dyed nylon monofilament.

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Cellular Symmetry in Blue, detail, 2019
stomata
Inspired by the stomata cells (or 'breathing') on a leaf surface, This piece was woven at Fondazione Arte della Seta Liso on a digital jacquard during a research residency. It has featured in articles in Jacquard magazine and most recently, Complex Weavers Journal.
Silk, 2012.
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Page 126, 'Happles,' warp satin with long pattern weft floats.

Digital Jacquard by Julie Holyoke

Several pieces of my jacquard weaving appear in Julie Holyoke's Digital Jacquard, published by Bloomsbury in 2013. These pieces were woven during my visits to Fondazioine Arte della Seta Lisio, Florence, Italy.
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Cover of 'Digital Jacquard' by Julie Holyoke, published by Bloomsbury, 2013.
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Dedication page, 'Leaf', a self-patterned silk damask.
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