An interdisciplinary artist sending a message through fibre.

By, Sania Ali

Sarah Moreau’s career as a fibre artist began with something ordinary: she was simply in search of a new hobby. Now, the interdisciplinary artist portrays intersectional environmentalism and feminism through her eco-conscious crochet and fibre art. 

She discovered her passion for crocheting in 2018, during her fourth and final year as a fine arts major at the University of Waterloo. 

“I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember and I was pursuing that through all four years of undergrad,” said Moreau. “I wanted to find a hobby that would keep my hands busy and my mind engaged.”

“I came across crocheting and thought I’d give it a go.”

A piece from Moreau’s vulva series. (Sarah Moreau/ Instagram)

Moreau began by making her own clothes, creating and tailoring apparel items such as scarves and tops. She noted that crocheting allowed her to participate in an ethical and environmentally-friendly alternative to purchasing from fast fashion companies.

Moreau found, however, that with practice, she could employ her new-found hobby to create more than just clothing items.

“Once I started crocheting and incorporating it into my art, it kind of went beyond just making something for myself. I felt connected to history and feminists before me that used craft as activism.”

As a feminist artist, Moreau has felt that art has allowed her to express her personal experiences as a woman living in contemporary society. Her practice also enables her to advocate for intersectional environmentalism and feminism. 

“Embracing my body and taking control of my pleasure, all the while challenging the patriarchal systems that exist right now—it just kind of makes sense to me,” she said when asked about expressing feminism through art.

Moreau’s crochet vulvas were the first to be shared on her fibre art Instagram account, a series that, as stated on one of her Instagram captions, allowed her to embrace “the ongoing journey of loving my body and treating it like the work of art it is.” Her pursuit and practice then took off instantly, enabling her to display her own art all while expressing feminism and overcoming stigma.

A piece from Moreau’s vulva series. (Sarah Moreau/ Instagram)

She said the crochet vulvas she makes will always have a “special place in my heart.” After sharing this series on online platforms, Moreau was overwhelmed with the amount of support she received from friends, family, and the online fibre art community. 

“I’ll get the occasional rude comment like that’s gross or they find it funny but the amount of support and positive comments I get far outweighs the negative ones so I barely even notice.” 

When it comes to the art community itself, Moreau would love to see art galleries move away from the “traditional, white cube gallery, and towards more community-driven artist-run spaces,” to allow art to be more accessible, welcoming, and interactive.

“Art is a super powerful tool for social change, whether it be music, writing, visual arts. It gives individuals a voice and freedom to express themselves and it plays a part in history.”

Moreau speaks on how art and advocacy do not need to fit into a cookie-cutter mold. Any form of art can be used to spread messages and speak to others. 

“It communicates how someone felt during a specific time so I don’t think you need to be explicitly political in your work for it to be considered activism.”

You can check out Moreau’s fibre art and shop on her profile, @feministfibre.

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