Peter Blake and Dovecot Studios 'Target, Rainbow, Star, Heart' 2012. Tapestry. Handwoven cotton. 60 x 60 cm. Edition of 12
Target, Rainbow, Star, Heart was designed by British pop artist Sir Peter Blake (b.1932) and woven by Dovecot weavers in 2012, to mark both Blake’s 80th birthday year and Dovecot’s centenary. Featuring icons and imagery synonymous with Blake’s distinctive Pop Art style, Target, Rainbow, Star, Heart is a striking tapestry that demonstrates the artist’s hand and the weaver’s skill.
Blake worked closely with the Studio to select colours that would suit the design. While weaving the first edition of the work, Master Weaver Naomi Robertson developed an approach for the series using cotton in single colour blends to emulate the flat graphic style of Blake’s artwork – the simplicity of which is deceiving. The technical challenge overcome by Dovecot weavers in attempting to weave precise lines and graduating curves in these tapestries is testament to their skill and ability to capture fine detail.
One variation of the tapestry was made with the four squares woven together as a single unit, while another version features the squares as four separate pieces.