Behind the Design: Human Nature

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Like a real coral reef, Human Nature grew organically. Saar Snoek began with the idea of a wearable reef, but started her garment without a clear plan of where it would go; instead it began growing almost by itself.

The result is a celebration of the beauty and complexity of our natural world as well as a sad reminder of environmental catastrophe bearing down on coral reefs across the globe. "The result is a celebration of the beauty and complexity of our natural world as well as a sad reminder of environmental catastrophe bearing down on coral reefs across the globe."

Saar is a feltmaker from Sellingen in the Netherlands, and Human Nature was her first attempt at a large felt collage. Saar entered Human Nature in the 2017 World of WearableArt Awards Competition and won the Aotearoa Section.

She began perfecting her craft in 2014 (her first piece was an egg-cosy!) and enjoys playing with shapes and textures to find the tipping point where order becomes chaos. The organic and transformational qualities of felt allow her the freedom to explore natural forms, and she finds collage ‘magical’ with its endless possibilities.

In nature the same patterns appear in different contexts. Saar plays with shapes and textures trying to find the tipping point where order becomes chaos. Saar sees a celebration of the beauty and complexity of (our) nature and also a sad reminder of what we are.

A self-confessed introvert, Saar initially thought WOW wasn’t for her. The idea of a large scale event on the other side of the world was intimidating. Then she realised that she could stay at home and continue creating while her garment is ‘at work’ on the other side of the globe. She also enjoys the boundaries that come with entering WOW; the requirements of the Competition give her the opportunity to have total creative freedom without getting completely lost.