These rugs are made for walking on
- Suleika refers to her craft as art to dress floors
- Sailcloth is her material of choice
- She used to work in the film industry
Suleika Ulmen has developed rugs that she calls 'floorcloth(e)s'. "My pieces are pictures that touch the floor. Floorcloth(e)s are painted rugs, art to walk on, live on and live in,” says Suleika. After working as a make-up artist in the film industry for 16 years, she moved into her own studio in 2001 painting canvases and murals before creating her first floorcloth(e)s in 2012. Ever since, historic illustrations, antique fabrics and embroidery, old wallpaper and nature inspire her unique pieces made from thick sailcloth. A light-filled, spacious workshop makes for the perfect space. "My work process is neat and organised in the preparation stage, and chaotic in the making stage," says Suleika.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
I use heavy sailcloth, which is sewn, primed, painted, partly printed by hand, partly meshed with silk fabrics. At the end, every piece is triple-sealed with a special lacquer to make the surface hard-wearing and durable.
The first step is the idea, then comes the design, the development and the gathering of the materials. The materials are sewn and primed, painted, dreamt, and experimented. Finally, the rug is sealed solidly and durably.
The technique I use is a tradition from 17th-18th century England. The designs and composition of my work are a conglomerate of historical and modern, trendy accents. I always keep my eyes wide open, at home, and even more so abroad – on the street, in church, everywhere.
That I hope my work will become a complete member of the purchaser's family. It is a rethink on art: it is not art that you are not allowed to touch; it is robust art that you can live with.
