Madonna’s Mantle, 2025
130cm x 260cm
Madonna’s Mantle reimagines the Sydney Opera House through hand stitching and embroidery, using materials from the Opera Australia Madonna costume. Once worn on stage within the very building it now depicts, the costume becomes both subject and substance of the work.
The piece began with the careful deconstruction of the garment—an act both unsettling and reverent. As its structure unraveled, new forms emerged. Freed from its original role, the fabric found renewed energy through layering, stitching, and reconstruction. Hidden elements like linings, fastenings, and labels remain visible, honouring the costume’s complete history.
Inspired by Suor Angelica, the work reflects on redemption, beauty, and sacrifice—echoing the costume’s journey from performance to artwork.
