Fabienne Rey

Netherlands in the region of Utrecht

On facebook at Fabienne Dorsman-Rey (not a public page)
Fiber Art Now Summer 2013 issue

Fabienne Rey; Walking the Earth; 2012, tunique 

In her own words...
I’ve been passionate about art and textile since my early childhood. Self-taught mostly, I’ve been practicing Eco-dyeing and printing intensively for several years after discovering the work of India Flint. I’m also a felter and a contemporary embroiderer and combine my skills to produce my textile art pieces, which have been exhibited in the Netherlands, in France and in Turkey (Antalya International Biennale for Green Fashion and Art). I continuously research different approaches, from traditional or historical sources as well as contemporary ones. 

Born and raised in Switzerland, I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 1995, where I use my own organic garden as a rich base for my research in dyeing, as well as my modest open air studio. Anthropologist, linguist and acupuncturist by formal education, I get my inspiration from nature, its rhythms and wisdom and my knowledge of various cultures throughout the world.

Fabienne Rey; Detail of jersey cotton, handpatched into a poncho, dyed with logwood dye bath, wrapped around rusty car suspension. Leaf prints from maples, cotinus, gingkos, oak, plus onions and eucalyptus leaves and seeds

Combining my acupuncture background and my work in textile, I explore the way people build resilience and heal, using eco-dyed stitched cloth as an analogy. I use time and discarded garments, dye them slowly with plants, giving them a second chance. Hand-stitching becomes a synonym for emotional healing, piecing ourselves together into a beautiful cloth of experiences and emotions. The stitched marks are reminiscent of long walks through inner emotional landscapes as through a labyrinth in search for oneself.

Fabienne Rey, Vulnerability Cloth; 2013; silk organza, silk pongee, and wool gauze, hand dyed tussah silk threads, eco dyed and eco prints (leaves of eucalyptus, maple, goldenrod, onion skins, logwood, madder), iron and copper scraps; hand stitched and intuitive embroidery; 25 x 34 inches
The eco-print process in itself embraces the valuating of what others discard: scrap metals, unused old clothing, kitchen and garden material ready for composting. They get a second chance to shine and dialogue with us by providing rich and surprising sources of dyes and shapes, creating a new language originating from that dialogue.

Fabienne Rey, Meli-Melo of eucalyptus leaves, chelidonium majus bath, Silk shawl (detail)

Sidebar revelation:   This is the t-shirt that Fabienne unbundled...eco dyed with, among other things, cochineal and sandalwood which created the pink.  Photo courtesy Ingrid Garrod.

Some of Fabienne's work displayed in her backyard.  Brazilwood and copper, ecodye technique with cornus leaves





Images and statement courtesy the artist.  Work shown here will not necessarily be exhibited in FTIO.




Images and statement courtesy the artist.  Work shown here will not necessarily be exhibited in FTIO.