Tim Johnson
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Originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, Tim is based on the Mediterranean coast of
Catalonia, Spain. Tim Johnson is a highly experienced basket maker and artist and has
received several awards for his work in Spain and Poland. Johnson’s work also appears in
numerous international institutions, including the Museu de La Pauma, Mas de Barberans,
Catalonia; New England Regional Art Museum, NSW, Australia; the Arts Council of Northern
Ireland and the Wicker and Hop Museum, Poland. Selected shows include: East Weaves
West: Basketry from Japan and Britain, 2007; Lines and Fragments, Crafts Study Centre,
Farnham, 2019 and the touring exhibition: Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining curated
by Gregory Parsons, in 2024.Johnson harvests a variety of plants from his local environment in Catalonia and the work he
makes during his research trips to Orkney, Shetland, the Outer Hebrides and further afield
incorporate local materials rooting the work in these distinctive landscapes. The artist’s
practice is underpinned by an attentive exploration of basketry techniques; via his research,
weaving gestures are understood within craft lineage. Focuses include soft material
techniques such as Neolithic braiding, twining and flexible structures such as camel looping
and knotted netting. Such deep material research generates intricate and complex objects
that preserve and develop technique. Embedded in Johnson’s practice is a pedagogical
approach as he continuously engages with international workshops and residencies. In so
doing, basketry is rendered as transferable and mutable, a medium shaped by the past, yet
flourishing in the present. -
Works
Tim Johnson
Falling Fringe (Small), 2025Giant reed, raffia and hemp195 H x 75 W x 130 D cm
76.7 H x 29.5 W x 51.1 D inFurther images
Description
Tim Johnson’s ‘Falling Fringe’ may be interpreted in relation to his experiences and his lifelong fascination with nature. This work comprising two contrasting systems of construction, presents us with a loose and open raffia fringe anchored to a geometric mesh of cut reed sections. Rooted in a body of work that has evolved over more than thirty years, many of Johnson’s installations and sculptural baskets feature deep pile and generous fringes. These works speak of Johnson’s desire to present natural materials in an honest and unfussy way, to create environments and contained spaces that welcome the viewer and invite an engagement with traditional and innovative making processes and to reflect on our relationship with the natural world.2of 2Exhibitions
