Rhea Moras

About

I’m an artist deeply committed to the philosophy of slow making, a practice through which I explore and understand the world around me and within me. For me, threads are not just materials; they are alive, and constantly teaching me new things about myself. My interactions with threads, often unexpected, lead me to profound insights and self-discoveries.

I was introduced to textiles – specifically wovens, and they soon became one of the most important mediums I worked with when I began studying fashion. Due to my naturally fidgety nature, I started playing with off-cuts and tiny pieces of fabric. This fidgeting, coupled with my tendency to overthink, led me to engage with the threads in various contexts. Through this repetitive manipulation, I began to see how the threads reacted and evolved, transforming each piece into a fragmented self-portrait that reveals new aspects of myself and my perception of the world.

In recent years, tattooing has become a significant part of my life, offering eye-opening experiences. During my MA at the RCA, I developed techniques such as hand-poking on fabric and skeletonization. Hand-poking on textiles, inspired by traditional hand-poke tattooing on skin, involves repetitively and gently poking the fabric. This mark-making technique allows for slow, careful changes, revealing how gradual processes can both weaken and enrich the surface over time. Skeletonization involves the meticulous removal of threads from delicate woven textiles, highlighting how the speed and intensity of the process affect the material. This method reflects the contrast between sudden versus gradual changes, illustrating how slow, deliberate alterations can integrate more naturally into the fabric, much like the way ongoing life experiences shape and become a part of us over time.

My work is deeply influenced by themes of memory, experiences, trauma, nostalgia, and introspection. Whether dealing with accessible or inaccessible memories, each piece is a tool for change and reflection. I believe in the importance of slow making, as it fosters a thoughtful and deliberate approach to creation, mirroring the slow and careful nature of personal growth and understanding.