Amanda Hall
City Limits
Having always lived in a city, I am interested in the relationship between urban environments and the people who live in them.
Walking through different areas of Bristol became an important part of the research for these projects as I immersed myself in its sounds, smells, and sights, noting the thoughts, emotions, and physical responses these experiences evoked.
Reflecting on my own experiences of feeling contained yet freed by living in a city, I wanted to understand others experiences.
I invited people to decorate handmade recycled textile balls responding to their own experiences of urban life.
54 textile balls were returned by 34 people exploring themes such as the coexistence of humans and wildlife, environmental pollution, food, friendship, community, culture, entertainment, overcrowding and a sense of hope and belonging.
The Quarry Shirts explore the experiences of people living in an old quarry in Bristol. Inspired by conversations with local residents, the work draws connections between place, memory, and the clothes we wear.
Like the Quarry, shirts bear the imprint of those who inhabit them. Worn, altered, repaired, and discarded, they hold stories that are both visible and hidden.
The shirts reflect an area that has continually evolved: unplanned, layered, diverse, and constantly changing, while continuing to make space for individuality, resilience, and belonging.
