Continuing to explore other materials that can be crocheted, Sulafa was keen to investigate copper wire of various types. In this project, she created a swatch using electrical copper wire, made up of several strands of thin, malleable wire, which therefore was not as stiff as other varieties.
In the traditional practice of crochet, at the beginning every project, the artist makes a swatch - a sample of ten stitches in ten rows to evaluate the gauge and size of the material which helps determine the size of the appropriate crochet hook. Just as a chef taste tests their dishes, a crochet artist creates a swatch.
In making the swatch, Sulafa noticed that the wire is as flexible as yarn can be, but acts differently when it is being crocheted; with wire, it is not as easy to smooth out curves and knots as it is with yarn, and is generally more demanding and labor-intensive to work with.
Material exploration swatch with electrician's copper wire
Material exploration swatch with electrician's copper wire
Material exploration swatch with electrician's copper wire
Material exploration swatch with electrician's copper wire
Material exploration swatch with electrician's copper wire
Untitled (from the series Soft Remnants),2023, yarn imprint on air-dried clay, 16.5 x 12.5 cm
Untitled (from the series Soft Remnants),2023, yarn imprint on air-dried clay, 10.5 x 11.5 cm
Untitled (from the series Soft Remnants),2023, yarn imprint and dry-brush paint on air-dried clay, 28 x 23 cm
Untitled (from the series Soft Remnants),2023, yarn imprint and dry-brush paint on air-dried clay, 10 x 6.5 cm
Untitled (from the series Soft Remnants),2023, yarn imprint on blue painted air-dried clay, 13.5 x 11.5 cm
Untitled (from the series Soft Remnants),2023, yarn imprint and dry-brush paint on air-dried clay, 14.5 x 14 cm