Harriet Rose Morley - Handicrafts Artist in Residence 2023/24

‘Hard Wear, Soft Wear’ is a new iteration of work by artist Harriet Rose Morley as part of her Handicraft Residency with LU Arts.

Unpacking the potential of feminist building and making practices ‘Hard Wear, Soft Wear’, focuses on the pedagogical value of technical spaces in UK Art Schools. Through process of research, design and the fabrication of pieces of workwear ’Hard Wear, Soft Wear’ highlights the various skills and techniques that are being taught or have been lost since the period that the Handicraft course ran at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. 
 
Workwear often serves a communal purpose, with one apron or jacket accommodating multiple users, bodies and spaces. Through the means of communal use, often remnants of projects, tools, techniques, notes and drawings accumulate within the fabric serving as evidence of the inherited knowledge and skills acquired within technical learning spaces. 
 
'Hard Wear, Soft Wear' focuses and references the history of the Handicraft Department at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Art College, and incorporates the technical knowledge and skills of current staff members. The crafted workwear provides a new design language within functional pieces created with traces of pedagogical, and passed on knowledge in mind. 

Publication launch and discussion

During the conclusion of Morley's Handicrafts Residency, LU Arts held an event bringing together Harriet Morley and Associate Professor in History of Art, Dr Marta Ajmar, for a thought-provoking discussion. The discussion, chaired by Dr David Bell, curator of the University's Arts Collection, explored how institutions, learning environments, and pedagogy interact, especially when viewed through a feminist perspective emphasizing accessibility, collectivity, and care.

Dr Ajmar and Morley examined how learning materials hold persistent knowledge and what deeper insights emerge when these educational relationships are reexamined.

Attendees received a free copy of the publication following the event, further allowing them to reflect on the ideas discussed.

A bunch of pencils and paper publication with a grey jacket on the front of it
Pencils and a small newspaper by Harriet Morley
Harriet Morley standing by a computer and desk by a large screen talking about her project to a lecture theatre of people
Harriet Morley discussing her project
Harriet Morley and Dr Marta Ajmar sit in front of Morley's work
Harriet Morley and Dr Marta Ajmar sit in front of Morley's work

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Harriet Rose Morley

Harriet Rose Morley (b. 1994, UK; she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist, builder, and educator based in the Netherlands. Currently, she is researching feminist collective working methodologies through the lens of technical and craft-based education and labour within the arts under the framework of 'Hard Work, Soft Work'. Her maxim is to be ‘always under construction, always learning and unlearning. 
 
Recently exhibitions include I didn’t think it would turn out this way, P/////AKT, Amsterdam (2021), You’re Never Done, Glasgow International 2021, Glasgow, UK (2021), The Headquarters PuntWG, NL (2022), UPS @ BAK (2023) and Fully Worktioning, The Balcony (2023). Since 2023 she is the Co-Director of Platform BK.
Handicraft looms on site at loughborough university
Weaving looms at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
Literature featuring workwear inspiring the project
Literature featuring workwear inspiring the project
Our LU Arts Office featuring handicraft furniture
Our LU Arts Office featuring handicraft furniture

Harriet Morley's Handicraft Residency was generously supported by the Dutch Embassy in London.