A Parallel Planets piece by Unknown
Parallel Planets presents Mister Finch
in Stitched Up Critters and Fairy Tale Creatures
Story by Joy Celine Asto
Mentioned: repurposed materials, sewn creatures, and stitched fairy tales
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With today's high-tech ways, it has never been easier for creative minds to fashion their own mythical beings, fantasy characters, and beasts of make-believe worlds. Even so, many artists still prefer to make their critters in traditional ways -- drawing, painting, and sculpting, to name a few. Or, one can always turn to sewing and stitching up intriguing creatures using textiles of various hues, types, and textures, as the British artist simply known as Mister Finch does.
First of the things that I find interesting is the fact that the Leeds-based artist is a self-taught male wielder of sewing needles, threads, and shears, as his artist/business name suggests. "It’s actually my surname… everyone calls me it and I like it," he says about himself. "I've called my business Mister Finch so it's clear from the start that I’m a man and one that sews."
Second, his works are far from the usual stuffed animals and plush toys we've all come to associate with whenever sewing and stitching is mentioned. Using all kinds of recycled bits, baubles, fabrics, and other materials, Mister Finch fashions creatures that are inspired both by nature and British folklore. I've come to realize that with each piece comes a fragment of the magical world he created for them, where foxes have wings, hares wear ruffled collars, birds look dainty in death, and insects appear a little less ghastly with their whimsically patterned wings and bodies.
Ultimately, it's his knack for picking various materials and stitching everything together into something that's both real and surreal that everyone finds exceedingly impressive. Who knew that old, stained fabrics would make life-like storybook creatures? Or that intricately detailed vintage textiles would add a touch of elegance to the otherwise revolting bugs and critters?
On his work, Mister Finch has said:
"Making things has always been incredibly important to me and is often an amazing release to get it out of my system. It’s a joy to hunt for things for my work…the lost, found and forgotten all have places in what I make. Most of my pieces use recycled materials, not only as an ethical statement, but I believe they add more authenticity and charm. A story sewn in, woven in."
