lindsay arnold

Um, can we all collectively agree that these acrylic paintings on panel are insane? PAINTINGS. I’ve written about Canadian artist Lindsay Arnold and her painted doilies before, but she has recently kicked it up a notch by adding pins, and clothes pegs, and trinkets, oh my! All of these pieces are from her ongoing series, titled Tedium. Here are her words about this work:

“In my grandmother’s time the doily was required for protecting surfaces, concealing imperfections, ornamenting surroundings, and measuring status. Today doilies are found in abundance at thrift stories, auctions and forgotten linen closets. Hours of female labour are represented in these worn, stained and unfashionable objects. The imperfections which have rendered the doilies unusable for their original purpose inspire narratives which are further explored through interactions with objects such as scissors, pins, and utensils. The doilies are stretched, torn, and misshapen, such as we are by marriage, illness, motherhood and more. “Tedium” is way to honour the difficult experiences which leave us worn, acknowledge thankless repetitive labour, and reveal a part of the anonymous doily maker’s story.”

Amen, sister.