Charlotte Des Ascoyne's project

Victorian botanical plates were key to documenting species of plant around the globe and they were specifically important in the development of scientific discovery for medicinal purposes. Taking this into account I'm looking at the food that was key to the Victorian era that the Millbank Penitentiary was erected.

It is important that all samples are hand drawn so that they represent the original plates. I have tried to make the drawings slightly macabre in the hope that they reflect the mood of the era. Keeping the prints simple will allow this sense of social commentary to seep off the cloth. The prints will also be subjected to embroidery in order to mimic the skills that would have been taught in this time. The fabrics will differ from natural cottons to polyesters so that the matt of the drawing can contrast with the materials.