Tim Parry-Williams
- E-mailTim.Parry-Williams@uib.no
- Phone+47 922 14 424+447786392221
- Visitor AddressMøllendalsveien 615009 BergenRoom423
- Postal AddressPostboks 78005020 Bergen
Biography / Artistic Profile
Weaver: Artisan, Designer, Researcher, Curator, Consultant and Educator.
Initially trained in the UK and later in Japan, work has included a diversity of projects with leading practitioners, industrial partners, traditional craft weavers and museums, contributing to commercial collections, developmental projects, and publishing through exhibitions, conferences, and peer-reviewed journals worldwide.
Exercising a broad, systematic approach, studio practice explores functional and artistic textile applications, informed and underpinned by a range of interests and interconnected research, which often explore the tension grounds between analogue and digital, and craft and industry, and a exercise keen focus on materials, and acknowledgment of tradition.
Chief interests are in materials, and work isn't immediately concerned with pattern or colour, but explores the regularly unseen values and potentials of structural and spatial conditions, and finish applications, to exploit or subvert inherent characteristics of materials employed.
Recent work has addressed broad concerns around sustainability, recognizing material provenance and inherent worth, and foregrounding forgotten understandings of textile and making, particularly in the domestic context.
Research
Keywords: Textiles; Craft; Art; Design; Industry; Materials; Culture; Anthropology; Aesthetics; Hybridity; Authenticity; Phenomenology; Hermeneutics; Tradition; Norway; Scandinavia; East:West; Japan
Research interests are interconnected and to date have included: investigation of cross-situational practice of studio and industry; inherited knowledge systems in crafts; and material culture and design in historical textiles.
In particular, over 20 years experience in Japan brings an extensive knowledge of local crafts and industry, and an internationally recognised expertise on Japanese textile culture.
Research: Dissemination Activity
(Selected) Conference/Symposium/Seminar papers (presented)
Patterns of Origin – Coded cultures of Anglo-Norwegian cloth trade and dress, ETN Conference 2023: Codes - stories in textiles 02-04 March 2023
A Private Wardrobe: Fashionable cloth and culture in mid-19th century Japan, Euroweb: Clothing Identities Conference 4-6 March 2022
Textiles: Past Traditions, Present Trends, Future Forecasts: Textile for Future Conference (Online), Kaunas, Lithuania, 22-23 October 2020
Common Grounds: exploring historical textile archives (an Anglo-Japanese study): Talking Textiles Conference: The Archaeology of Textiles (Online), New York, USA, 30 September 2020
In search of the timeless: Exploring textile archives for [Plain Stripe Check]: Wolkskundertag, Haslach, Austria, 15 June 2013
Inherited expertise: [Re]valuing traditional Japanese textile practices for the modern world: Shifting Cultures Of Expertise, Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University, 13 June 2012
Modern Traditional Textiles: Trans/National Clothing: Production and Consumption, Bath Spa University, September 2011
Past Present and Future Craft Practice Commission: Future Craft exposition, University of Dundee, 25 March 2010
Plain, Stripe, Check: Sashiko - Symposium, Collins Gallery, Glasgow, 27 February 2010
Cultural Soujourning: How global exchanges change cultural and personal identities, Hub National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford, 1 Feb 2010
Scarlet: Six Guilds Day Conference, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, 24 October 2009
Textiles for Boutique Clothing: Inspired Design: Jacquard and Entrepreneurial Textiles, Hendersonville, USA, January 2009
Craft-based design: Crafticulation and Education, University of Helsinki, Finland, September 2008
Craft:Industry Interface - Hand, Heart and Machine: Neocraft: Modernity and the Crafts, NSCAD, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, November 2007
Major Project Funding
2022: Norwegian Artistic Research Programme (HKDIR / PKU): nok.3,000,000 [Beyond Heritage: Material Making Meaning] - Principal Investigator
2022: EEA Norway Lichtenstein Grant: nok.700,000 [Interweaving Structures: Fabric as Material, Method and Message] - Co-Investigator
(Selected) Arts Grants / Awards
2008 / 2018 Theo Moorman Charitable Trust for Weavers: Grant
2009 / 2006 The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation: Small Grant
2008-9, University of Dundee, Past, Present and Future Craft Practice: Craft Research Commission
2006, 2 X 'Superior Works' awards, Japan Folk Craft Museum Craft Awards 2006, Tokyo
Faculty of Art, Music and Design: Department of Contemporary Art
Art Modules:
ART320 - Artistic Practice (Collaborative Practices) - Module Leader
(Textiles) Subject Modules:
MEME101 Introduksjon i tekstil: vev (Norwegian info) Module Leader
PRO201 (Norwegian info) / PRO301 Materialised Knowledge - Module Teacher
PRO215 / PRO315 Exhibition Making - Module Leader
- (2020). Textiles: Traditions, Trends, and Forecasts. 14 pages.
More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)
Conference Papers (proceedings)
Parry-Williams, T (2020) Textiles: Traditions, Trends, and Forecasts, Textile for Future, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas, ISBN: 9786094473494 p.96-109
Parry-Williams, T (2014) Made-by-hand: [Re]valuing traditional (Japanese) textile practices for contemporary design In: Transition: Re-Thinking Textiles & Surfaces, Huddersfield University, ISBN: 9781862181274
Parry-Williams, T (2007) Craft:Industry Interface - A Dialogue Between Hand, Heart and Machine (An Anglo-Japanese Collaboration) In: New Craft - Future Voices' Conference Proceedings, ISBN 1899837558, University of Dundee, July 2007, p.73-85.
Journal Articles (peer reviewed)
Pending: (Co-Authored paper) Cabrera, Coman, Kulpa & Parry-Williams. (2023) Searching for the Exotic - Textiles, Orientalism and Identities. Euroweb Anthology (March 2023) - Pending review for publication
Parry-Williams, T. (2015) 'Made-by-hand: [re]valuing traditional (Japanese) textile practices for contemporary design.' Craft Research, 6 (2). pp.165-186. ISSN 2040-4689.
Journal Articles (commissioned)
Parry-Williams, T. (2022) 'Extra-ordinary Stuff: Alison Morton’s Lasting Legacy.' Selvedge, (107) pp.72-74. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T. (2020) Kristina Daukintyte & Karina Nøkleby Presttun: New collaborative works (presented in GRIT)
Parry-Williams, T. (2019) Moving Forward, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham
Parry-Williams, T (2016) 'Fuji-Yoshida: weaving town.' Selvedge, (70). pp.56-59. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2016) 'Bashofu: the traditional banana-fibre textile culture of Okinawa.' Selvedge, (70). pp.60-63. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2016) 'Contemplating cloth: the weaving of Jun Tomita.' Selvedge, (70). pp.64-66. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2015) 'Material matters: a quiet philosophy.' Jamini, 2 (1). pp.124-133. ISSN 1728-5747.
Parry-Williams, T (2015) 'Women's work? Thoughts on men and weaving / Arbeit der Frauen? Gedanken zu Männern und Weben.' Textilforum, 2. pp.12-13. ISSN 1431-3510
Parry-Williams, T (2015) 'HaaT trick.' Selvedge, (65). pp.15-21. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2014) ‘A martial art - indigo-dyed textiles from Saitama, Japan.' Selvedge, (58). pp.51-53. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2007) 'Treading Softly.' Selvedge, (16). pp.64-69. ISSN 1742-254X
Exhibition/Book Reviews (commissioned)
Parry-Williams, T (2016) 'Pauline Burbidge: Quiltscapes & Quiltlines.' Selvedge, (71). pp.92-93. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2016) ‘Kimono Meisen.’ Selvedge, (70). p. 85. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2015) 'W is for Wallpaper.' Selvedge, (67). pp.92-93. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2012) Japanese style: sustaining design, Reiko Sudo.' Selvedge, (47). p.91. ISSN 1742-254X
Parry-Williams, T (2011) 'Anni Albers: design pioneer / Inspired by the legacy of Anni Albers.' Selvedge, (39). pp.88-89. ISSN 1742-254X.
Catalogue Essays
Parry-Williams, T. (2022) ‘Alison Morton: Lasting Legacy’ in: ‘Alison Morton: Weaver’, The Theo Moorman Trust for Weavers and Ruthin Craft Centre, pp.6-9. ISBN 9781911664123
Parry-Williams, T., (2004) 'Working with genius: Seeing beyond sensei' in: 'Through the Surface', The Surrey Institute of Art and Design, pp.47-8. ISBN 0954628527
(Selected) Exhibitions
Solo
(Forthcoming) 2023-2024, ‘Dinner Service: The Family Silver’, KRAFT, Bergen, Norway
2011, ‘Towel’, Ruskin Mill, Nailsworth, UK
2009, ‘Vocation’, Ruskin Mill, Nailsworth, UK
Joint
2016, ‘Beautility’, Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, Cheltenham, UK
2013, 'Plain, Stripe, Check', Textile Kultur Haslach, Austria
2011, 'Plain, Stripe, Check', Museum in the Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
2010, 'Plain, Stripe, Check', Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, UK 2010, 'Clothing - Fabric of the East', New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, UK
2007, 'Plain, Stripe, Check', Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Japan
2003, 'Sozai:Materials', Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, London, UK
Group
2023, ‘Curated Kitchen’, Hordaland Kunstsenter, Bergen, Norway
2023, ‘Plant Communitas:Linum’, RSpace Gallery, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
2023, ‘Plant Communitas:’, Sidney Nolan Trust, England
2023, '90th Anniversary Exhibition of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen 1933-2023', Museum in the Park, Stroud; and Court Barn, Chipping Campden, England
2022, ‘Plant Communitas’, Museum in the Park, Stroud, England
2018, ‘Lost in Linen’, Linen Biennale, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
2015, 'Farnham Textiles 1949-2015: Celebrating sixty-six years', Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, UK
2013, ‘From William Morris to today: the textiles of the Cotswolds’, Gordon Russell Design Museum, Broadway, UK
2013, ‘Making Connections’ Crafts Study Centre, The University Museum of Modern Crafts, Farnham, UK
2011-2012, 'Bite-sized: Miniature Textiles from Japan and the UK, International tour: Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, London; GalleryGallery, Kyoto, Japan; Nagoya UAS, Japan
2010-2011, 'All Tied Up', UK tour: Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh; Mission Gallery, Swansea; Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire, UK
2010-2011, 'Warp+Weft: From Hand Loom to Production', National Wool Museum, Carmarthenshire / Smiths Row, Bury St.Edmunds, UK
2010-2011, 'Future Craft', International tour: Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Canada; Matthew Gallery, University of Dundee, UK
2010, 'Knowledge Through Making', Dundee Contemporary Arts:VRC, Dundee, UK
2008-2009 Inspired Design: Jacquard & Entrepreneurial Textiles. The Centre for Craft Creativity & Design, Hendersonville (and NC State tour) USA
2008, 'Textile in progress', Amities Tissèes, Paris, France
2007, 'Future voices: Celebrating diversity', DJCAD, University of Dundee, UK
2007, Fashion collection collaboration (fabrics) with Aenne Cordsen; and Rubeksen Yamanaka, Livingstone Studio, London, UK
2006, 'Nihon Mingeikan Ten (Japan Folk Crafts Museum Craft Awards)', Tokyo, Japan
2004-2005, ‘Through the surface: Collaborating textile artists from Britain and Japan’. International tour: SIAD Farnham/Hove MoA; Sainsbury Centre Norwich; Bankfield Museum/Piece Hall Halifax; Nottingham Castle Gallery; Kyoto MOMA, Japan
2004, 'Workshop and Exhibition: Nepalese Nettle-Fibre Sustainable Income Development Project', Ambassador Hotel, Kathmandu, Nepal
Beyond Heritage: Material Making Meaning | NARP 2022-2025
Research Catalogue (Under development)
https://hkdir.no/ (Under Development)
[Beyond Heritage: Material Making Meaning] is a collaborative research project between, Tim Parry-Williams, Professor of Art: Textiles, Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD), University of Bergen; and Franz Petter Schmidt, Professor in Textiles, Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO).
Emerging from the (shared) field of woven textiles, the project explores ideas of craft and production, material heritage and futures, and the reading and interpretation of related (textile) histories, with a view to establishing new understandings and potentials in national or regional textile practice.
It investigates the topics of weaving as metaphor; knowledge or cultural heritage in practice; reciprocity, ecology, and sustainability; cultural exchange and identity; and ideas of social fabric. These are addressed primarily in the context of Norway and the wider Nordic-region, but with reference to connected geographies, and emerging deglobalization.
Through a portfolio of interconnected work packages 'Weaving:Making'; 'Weaving: Materials'; and 'Weaving:Reading', the project will deliver a range of research outputs including artworks, exhibitions, seminars, pedagogic material, practice models and policy, and publications.
The collaboration will run in two parts: a KMD-led Phase1 (3 years), followed by a KHiO-led Phase2 (3 years). A 2021 application to NARP is for the funding and activation of Phase1.
KEYWORDS: Materials, Identity, Heritage, Craft, Weaving, Knowledge, Textiles, Ecology, History, Anthropology
Recent Output:
Conference Paper: [Patterns of Origin – Coded cultures of Anglo-Norwegian cloth trade and dress]
Codes - Stories in Textiles, European Textile Network, Lodz, Poland - 02-04March 2023
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Interweaving Structures | EEA Norway Lichtenstein 2022-2024
The Interweaving Structures project : fabric as a material, method, carrier is carried out by the Central Museum of Textiles in Łódź, the Faculty of Fine Arts, Music and Design of the University of Bergen in Norway and the Doctoral School of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow in the period 01/03/2022 - 29/02/2024. The task was co-financed from the "Culture" program, Action 2 "Improving access to culture and art" under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021.
The goals of the project include: development of transnational integration and cooperation of cultural and scientific communities from Poland and Norway; incorporating the creative traditions of the Saami people from the north of Norway and the disappearing weaving techniques of the Podlasie region into the broader current of culture and art; popularizing knowledge about Polish and Norwegian artistic textiles and their cultural background; formulating new research perspectives on the art of textiles; exchange of experiences and good practices between project organisers; raising competences and preparing students of master's, doctoral and curatorial studies for professional work; supporting artists by organizing artistic residencies.
The project assumes the implementation of a series of online seminars and research and art residencies in Łódź, Podlasie, Bergen and Kautokeino in the north of Norway for students of art universities from both countries. The result of participation in the above activities will be an exhibition prepared by the participants of the project, under the guidance of curators from partner organizations, which will be presented to the public in Łódź and Bergen in 2023.
Important components of the project will also include: a scientific symposium during the 17th International Triennial of Textiles at the CMWŁ, an international exhibition at the CMWŁ with the participation of recognized artists of textile art and curators from Poland and Norway, as well as a scientific publication and communication with recipients via a website and online tools.
Committees (Norway)
(Internal) Chair, PhD Appointment, Artistic Research Fellow in Fine Art (Textiles), May – June 2023
(External) Chair, PhD Appraisal: Ida Falk Øien - Transactional Aesthetics - and so can you - KHiO - December 2021 - June 2022
External Examinership / Sensor (UK HEI Sector)
2022 - 2025 Textiles Design with Business Studies BA(Hons), University of Brighton, UK
2016~2020 BA/BSc(Hons) Textile Practice (Textile Design) (Textiles Crafts and Art) (Surface Design), University of Huddersfield, UK
External Academic Validation Roles (UK HEI Sector)
Panel Member, OUVS Validation: CertHE/FD/BA(Hons) Fashion Design + CertHE/FD/BA(Hons) Interior Textiles & Surface Design, Somerset College of Arts and Technology, March 2015
Panel Member, 5year Validation: BA(Hons) Fashion and Textile Design, Winchester School of Arts, University of Southampton, November 2014
Panel Member, OUVS Revalidation: BA(Hons)Printed Textiles and Surface Design/BA(Hons) Fashion, Leeds College of Art and Design, January 2012
Other Esteem / Expertise / Sector Leadership Roles / Activity
Co-Curator and Convenor: (Re)fashioning the future, Textile Industry Museum, Salhus, 23 April 2022
Juror, 7th Riga International Triennial of Textile and Fibre Art, 2023
Co-Curator and Convenor: (Re)fashioning the future II, Textile Industry Museum, Salhus, 25 April 2023
Juror, 8th European Quilt Triennale, 2021
Member, AHRC Peer Review College, January 2017-2022
Texprint Selection Panellist, 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019
Artist in Residence: Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Norway, February 2016
Founder Member, F.I.R.E (Fashion, Innovation, Research, Evolution), LUA, 2015
Crafts Council UK: Mentor - Crafts Council Hothouse programme, 2014
Consultant/advisor: ‘Spinning in the era of the spinning wheel: Workshop on yarns and spinning for early modern textiles (1400-1800)’, V&A Clothworkers Centre, London, 14 November 2014
Consultant Peer Reviewer: AHRC Research Grants (Standard) scheme, February 2010
Exhibition consultancy: ‘Canvas of my Japanese spirit', Goldsmiths, London, 2006
Membership of Professional / Charitable Bodies
Member: Advisory Board, European Textile Network
Member of the Board of Trustees, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, 2007~
Member of the Acquisitions Panel, Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, 2007~
Member of the Board of Trustees, Stroudwater Textile Trust, 2004-2019
Member, Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, 2003-2019