Jules Vissers

Taftique

Tapestry maker

©Taftique

Painting with yarn

Jules makes wall hangings, centerpieces and decorative rugs
Her technique is called tufting and is similar to embroidery
She uses wool, silk and special blended yarns

Jules Vissers' handmade artworks marry ancient tapestries with cubist paintings. Born in the Netherlands but based in Italy since 1998, Jules makes unique wall hangings, centerpieces and rugs in her atelier Taftique that she opened after a master's in Art Textile at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts in 2020. Her technique is called tufting and is a kind of embroidery. First she makes a drawing and transfers it to cloth, then using a needle or a special gun with an air compressor, she inserts the yarn from the back of the cloth which makes it appear on the front size. She then either cuts it, so that is appears straight, or inserts it back into the cloth for a curved effect. When the design is complete, the yarn has to be trimmed and finally fixed with latex or glue. It is a very long process taking Jules up to a month to complete a large work.

Interview

©Taftique

©Taftique

What’s the source of inspiration for your designs?: There are many. Renaissance art, the Tuscan landscape, 20th century artistic trends like Cubism and Art Deco. I admire Sonia Delaunay for her paintings and textile works. When I work on commission, I like to see the place where the artwork will be hung, to choose the right colours and design.
Are your creations intended to be touched?: My unframed works are multifunctional, they can be looked at as well as touched – of course with care and clean hands. I use wool, silk and special yarns: the tactile feel of them is part of the experience. And moving the yarn, colours change and you may also discover hidden details.
Are colours an important feature of your artwork?: Definitely. It’s scientifically proven that colours influence people’s moods and feelings. And if a room is quite dark, a colourful art piece is enough to brighten it. That’s why I’d rather use positive hues that I match playing with contrasts.
Has living in Italy influenced your creative journey?: My passion for yarn dates back to my childhood, when I took up knitting and crochet. But it was a study trip to Rome when I was 17 that changed my life, triggering my interest for art. I fell so much in love with Italy, that I decided to study Italian language and literature and then move there.

Jules Vissers is a rising star: she began her career in 2020