Imprint: What is the premise for this exhibition and how have you been working towards it?

Peter Ward: I began weaving linocuts in 2013. My interest started almost by accident when I was looking at several colour variations of a print that was not quite getting there. I decided to try weaving them together. The result was something more than the original—a shimmering patterned surface which diffused the image and compelled the viewer to look a little harder to discover the narrative. This exhibition offers me the opportunity to collect together many of the woven works I’ve done since 2013 including Apocalypse Tattoo Woven which has been shortlisted in this year’s Swan Hill prize.

Imprint: What are some of the foundation ideas for the work in the exhibition and what are visitors likely to experience?

Peter Ward: The woven works are an extension of existing linocuts and contain all their narrative elements—most recently an apocalyptic view of the world I’ve gained from watching too much TV news. These elements are obscured behind the attractive surface the weaving creates. I enjoy the tension between this attractiveness and the darker images just below the surface. I’m confident that everyone visiting the exhibition will see a serious and cohesive body of work.

Imprint: How was the work developed technically and what were some of the challenges involved?

Peter Ward: The weaving is not technically challenging in itself but finding colour ways that interact satisfactorily is. Those who are familiar with my work know that I like to play with bright colour and when I manage to get the image and colours just right the two prints seem to magically merge into a unique work greater than the sum of its two parts. I tend to use smaller works as studies before launching into the larger pieces which can take up to two days to weave.

Imprint: What future projects are you working on?

Peter Ward: After the Firestation show I have a three-week residency at the Art Vault in Mildura where I will be working towards a solo show at Tacit Galleries in September. The centrepiece of this show will be Small Tunes, a large quilt made up of multiple 15 x 15cm linocuts printed onto calico.

Interwoven is at Firstation Print Studio April 4-21. Peter will be giving a demonstration in the Firestation Print Studio Gallery at 2pm on Saturday April 7.