The secret of silkworms
textile design, screen printing
‘The Secret of Silkworms’ was inspired by the unique beauty and life cycle of ‘Bombux Mori’ silkworms and their incredible ability to produce the ancient natural fibre Silk.
The beauty of the lifecycle of insects goes unnoticed in our everyday lives and we have created an industry that takes advantage of these unbelievable creatures. This has led me to question my ethical responsibility and what effect my choices have on the planet and other living things. The Silkworm’s lifecycle goes through four stages which include the egg, larva (caterpillar), the cocoon and the hatching of the moth. During the production of silk, the larva is boiled and killed to ensure an unbroken cacoon made of long fine strands of silk fibre.
“Intricate patterns of circular motifs, symbolises the different stages of the Silkworm’s fragile life. Tiny circles represent the birth of the silkworm eggs, and the larger circles represent the shape of the caterpillar’s body. The repetitive movement and direction of the circles create larger circles and lines across the page which symbolise the creation of the cocoon and the hatching of the moth."
