Claire Begheyn, My life is Art

A book by Michael Petry gave me the insight that it’s not forbidden to talk about aspects of craft in art. The title of his book is: ‘The Art of Not Making’ and it delves into the new artist/artisan relationship. Although the length of time in making an artwork is never is calculated in the price, it should perhaps play a role in deciding what the cost of a work will be. In the introduction the question is posed: “What is the value, if any, of craft in art?” I come from a textile background and studied 4 years to get a teachers degree in textiles. Among our subjects were techniques and ‘free textiles’. I was continually in doubt and considered myself inferior in techniques.
When travelling I am drawn to decorative aspects on buildings. Imagine that all the buildings with a religious context were gone. My love of detailing and colors extends also to carpets, tiles, embroidered tablecloths etc. the details of which have captivated me for good. I wander with a sense of astonishment and then choose my details through my perception.
For a long time I was ashamed of the craft aspect in my work. One of my gallerists once said to me: all the hours you spent making the dreads will never be paid for.