Lyn Davidson

I am an Australian weaver and fibre artist of Irish descent, living and creating respectfully on Ngunnawal Country, Canberra, ACT.

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A sustainable, holistic view of love and care for the environment lies at the heart of my work. My preferred medium is harakeke, also known as New Zealand Flax (phormium tenax). All the plant materials I use for weaving are lovingly nurtured, grown, harvested, and prepared by hand. I find the preparation and weaving of my materials to be a mindful, meditative, and soul-nourishing practice.

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I often weave freely, in tune with my weaving materials and heart. However, I also aim to find my own style in connection to my Irish heritage through form and patterns inspired by Irish and Celtic art, textiles, basketry, history, and mythology while weaving with respect towards the materials, cultural protocols, and traditional practices taught by my Māori teachers and mentors.

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I enjoy researching and exploring weaving as well as symbolism and patterns from across the world. I particularly enjoy the interconnectedness found in the weaving of people separated by space and time, using their skills, imagination and the resources at hand to produce related patterns that have become almost universal in appearance, although having different names and meanings attributed through cultural perspective and language. 

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Through learning to weave using plants from my garden, and opening my heart to the rhythms of nature, I have found a growing sense of connection to my own ancestral cultural practices, especially around seasonal and environmental awareness and traditions which has strengthened my love for and connection with Mother Earth.

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I was taught Raranga (the Māori art of weaving) while living in Aotearoa New Zealand. I continue to learn and strengthen my connections with Māori culture as a member of Tūmanako Māori Cultural Group in Canberra.

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Although weaving is a great passion of mine which brings me joy and gives me time and space to breathe, spending loving times with my family, and caring for my family through all of life's joys and sorrows are the most important things in my life.