Concept
The tapestry is based on my photograph of the Vasily Kesarii Church in Staraya Ladoga. The image has been translated into a language of large, flat color fields: a lilac sky, warm pink-ochre walls, olive grass, and two domes as the main focal point. The low shooting angle dedicates most of the composition to the sky. The piece was created for my creative studio in Staraya Ladoga and brings the surrounding landscape indoors.
Frame upon which the tapestry print is based
When I first came to Old Ladoga to study the area, the first thing I saw was the Church of Basil Kesarius. Since then, it has become a symbol of this place and of how I want to work with it. We preserve history, but we don’t conserve it: old places continue to live and acquire new meaning. This is the origin of the name «Old (New) Ladoga.» It is the same ancient land, viewed anew through a contemporary artistic language.
Visual Solution
The composition is built in three layers: a lavender cloudy sky, pinkish-ochre walls topped with purple and golden-ochre domes, and olive-mustard grass. The recognizable silhouette of the temple is preserved, yet the photograph has been translated into large, flat planes with soft edges. In this way, the familiar historical image is read anew.
Materials and Creation Technology
This language is chosen for Jacquard weaving: the edges in the fabric are softened, shades emerge from the combination of threads, and large color masses retain the character of the image. The tapestry is one of the most ancient techniques, which here interacts with modern graphic design. This is yet another interpretation of the idea of «old and new together.»
Working Parameters
The format most suitable for the tapestry’s technology has been chosen: 123 × 142 cm.
