SPIER ART COLLECTION

The Little Binche Peacock references an 18th Century piece of lace created with the notoriously difficult Binche technique. The detail and near inhuman craftsmanship that went into such complex weaving technique to make a 4.5cm width of lace is spellbinding. Fouché has dedicated his research to mastering this technique. The large-scale rope-work installation of an abstracted landscape, three years in the making, is the result of this dedication.

The rope-work is infused with a perfume of flora and smell of veld-fire. The olfactory narrative implies a landscape in distress (fire, invasion), but also the promise of renewal.

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Pierre Fouché is a lacemaker. His respect for technique, tradition, and innovation have earned him his place as an internationally respected practitioner and teacher of contemporary bobbin lace. His penchant for arcane media and aesthetics, has led his practice to include macramé, drawn thread embroidery, encaustic painting and pinhole photography, as well as traditional art forms. After receiving an MFA, Fouché exhibited globally, including notable exhibitions in the USA; he has also held 5 solo shows. This installation was created as part of his 2017 to 2019 participation in Spier Artist Patronage Programme.