We all wear masks. We wear different ones for different audiences or situations. But one thing is common – we take them off when we go inside our homes. How many times have you heard of something horrible happening and the neighbours say things like ‘they seemed such a nice couple’, ‘he was always so polite and friendly’?

The statistics for domestic violence are terrifying all over the world. A survey of domestic violence data in Australia revealed that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men have experienced at least one incident of violence from a current or former partner since the age of 15. Between 2014 and 2016 there were 264,028 domestic violence incidents reported and recorded. 1 in 6 (1.6 million) women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a cohabiting partner since age 15

My inspiration for the Mask prompt came after yet another report of a woman’s murder at the hands of her ‘supposedly’ loving partner. 

My quilt at first sight looks light and happy until you look closer and see what is dribbling out from behind some of the doors or scared faces at the window.

The fabric for the quilt was created using breakdown or deconstructed screen printing techniques.

 They were then cut up and pieced to form the ‘happy garden’ outside and the doors.

The windows were stamped with discharge paste and face stamps.  

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

30″ x 40″

Screen printed fabric, discharge paste and stamps

Machine pieced and quilted.