To identify the imagery in this artwork, we need look no further than its descriptive title. Embroidered plants and animals, reminiscent of early botanical identification manuals, surround a rendering of the exact mid-century sewing machine used to assemble the quilt.

Anglo-French artist duo Daniel Dewar and Grégory Gicquel use traditional and modern craft techniques to explore themes of labor and connection. In their work, plants, animals, and insects work together to create a lively, interwoven ecosystem where each plays a unique role. Thorny blackberry bushes protect the soil and feed the worms beneath them. Insects, often seen as pests, help by pollinating plants and housing larvae that grow into moths and butterflies. Through their art practice, the artists demonstrate how every living thing, big or small, depends on each other to thrive.

What or who do you depend on?

(Written by Carlyn Wilder, 2024)