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Uber-Cool

Scarf
2005 (designed), 2005 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Mirka Rozmus is an Australian weaver who specialises in creating unique hand woven silk scarves. Originally trained as a classical violinist, Rozmus ran her own Design Studio in Sydney creating couture garments from her hand woven fabrics. She gave up her musical career in 2002 to concentrate on weaving full time.

Rozmus trained under Peter Townley, also a musician, who ran a weaving course at the Tasmanian School of Art, before moving to Sydney in 1984. Every year she travels to Kyoto in Japan to purchase the traditionally hand dyed silks from which she weaves limited edition scarves. She uses the traditional method of handweaving, working on an eight shaft, foot powered jack loom; this is a lengthy and precise method of handweaving as the warp alone may contain over 2,000 fine silk threads. Rozmus weaves only two or three scarves per warp and never reproduces an original design. Each finished scarf is individually named and allocated an 'archival number' before being rolled on a hand made silk covered roller, wrapped in Japanese paper and placed in a box, also designed by Rozmus and hand made in Kyoto.

Uber Cool was inspired by a trip to New York and the interior of Grand Central Station. Dazzled by the polished marble, the expensive food hall and retail outlets, Rozmus was also aware of the impersonal and soul-less reality of urban living. Uber Cool also references the start designs of Kenneth Cole and the monumental structures of metal, steel and concrete. The warp series was a prototype for a 'men's series' of scarves, the use of a monochrome colour palette evokes the feeling of the big City.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleUber-Cool (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Hand woven silk
Brief description
Scarf, hand woven silk, 'Uber Cool', designed and made by Mirka Rozmus, Australian, 2005.
Physical description
Rectangular hand woven scarf, made from hand dyed Japanese silk yarn. Alternating stripes of silver grey, black and pewter warp threads with brown weft creates a grid like pattern. Finished with hand twisted and hand knotted fringes.
Dimensions
  • Length: 180cm
  • Width: 30cm
Production typeUnique
Copy number
105
Marks and inscriptions
105 (On bottom corner of scarf. Each scarf woven by Rozmus is a numbered original and will not be reproduced. The identifying archival number is hand stitched on the bottom corner of the scarf. The scarf has a typed and signed certificate from the artist which details the title, number, dimensions and date of completion of the work. The certificate is filed on the RF.)
Credit line
Given by Mirka Rozmus
Summary
Mirka Rozmus is an Australian weaver who specialises in creating unique hand woven silk scarves. Originally trained as a classical violinist, Rozmus ran her own Design Studio in Sydney creating couture garments from her hand woven fabrics. She gave up her musical career in 2002 to concentrate on weaving full time.

Rozmus trained under Peter Townley, also a musician, who ran a weaving course at the Tasmanian School of Art, before moving to Sydney in 1984. Every year she travels to Kyoto in Japan to purchase the traditionally hand dyed silks from which she weaves limited edition scarves. She uses the traditional method of handweaving, working on an eight shaft, foot powered jack loom; this is a lengthy and precise method of handweaving as the warp alone may contain over 2,000 fine silk threads. Rozmus weaves only two or three scarves per warp and never reproduces an original design. Each finished scarf is individually named and allocated an 'archival number' before being rolled on a hand made silk covered roller, wrapped in Japanese paper and placed in a box, also designed by Rozmus and hand made in Kyoto.

Uber Cool was inspired by a trip to New York and the interior of Grand Central Station. Dazzled by the polished marble, the expensive food hall and retail outlets, Rozmus was also aware of the impersonal and soul-less reality of urban living. Uber Cool also references the start designs of Kenneth Cole and the monumental structures of metal, steel and concrete. The warp series was a prototype for a 'men's series' of scarves, the use of a monochrome colour palette evokes the feeling of the big City.
Other number
Warp No. 166, Warp Title City Scape
Collection
Accession number
T.36-2010

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Record createdMay 19, 2011
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