My collection, titled 'Gold and Clay', explores the contrast between the burial status of the rich and the poor during Bronze Age Britain and Ireland. During this time, it was common for people to be buried with various artefacts that they believe they can take with them to the afterlife. The most common artefacts found in graves include clay pottery, bronze tools, and gold jewelry. The higher their social status and the wealthier they were, the more gold and bronze they were buried with. I explored this divide between the rich and poor through two different fabrics – rough hessian and shiny satin. Hessian is known for being a cheap fabric used for rucksacks. Its rough texture resemble that of a Bronze Age clay cremation pot. In contrast, satin is associated with expensive gowns and luxury. Its smooth and shiny surface resemble the gold artefacts found in burial sites. The richer the person, the more satin in the garment, the poorer the person, the more hessian in the garment.
