Tammy Kanat: Circles of Life

Tammy Kanat is a Melbourne-based artist whose recent work has focused on tapestries woven around an oval-shaped copper frame. Presenting an innovative transition from traditional warp-and-weft weaving – where vertical threads (the warp) are held in a loom, while other threads (the weft) are woven sideways through them – Kanat’s technique utilises a circular form, often associated with unity, inclusion, wholeness and infinity.

Circles of Life is a group of four works commissioned by the NGV that represent Kanat’s key thematic concerns. Throughout her career, Kanat has explored the representation of natural forms in tapestry – the concentric circles in these four works recall cut agate, living coral and aerial landscape scenes. Her work is also informed by an interest in colour theory, rare Japanese colour dictionaries, and the work of Bauhaus textile artist Gunta Stolzl and modernist artists such as Sonia Delaunay.

Kanat collaborated with MECCA Brands for its 2019 Holiday collection, inspired by a shared love of art, textile, design and colour. Now in its fourth year, this partnership sees MECCA Brands founder and managing director, Jo Horgan, support the NGV to acquire works by Australian female contemporary artists for the NGV Collection.

The NGV thanks Jo Horgan and MECCA Brands for making these works possible.