may well ring a bell: Deirdre is indeed the wife of James Dyson, inventor of the revolutionary vacuum cleaner. An everyday object that is in fact the tree that hides the forest. A remarkable engineer, Dyson revolutionized a multitude of household appliances not only in Great Britain but across the globe. Try to find an airport that isn’t equipped without his renowned hand dryers... Awarded a CBE in 1996, he is today at the head of a considerable fortune. And although Deirdre has stood by his side since their marriage in 1967 and throughout his career, she didn’t want to be just “the wife of”. The couple met at the Byam Shaw School of Art where both were studying. A period that nurtured James’ flair for design, and encouraged Deirdre to devote herself to painting before moving on to the creation of carpets and rugs about twenty years ago. Renowned in London, she published in 2015 the appropriately titled Walking on Art . Appropriate because her creations are indeed works of art. The French really got to know her when she opened her Parisian gallery in 2020. Here, rugs and carpets hang on the wall like paintings, and the quality of the composition, the graphic strength, the shades of colour, and the reflections of silk on a background of Tibetan wool are stunning. As for rugs and carpets that are in their more everyday place on the floor, it is almost awkward to walk on them. “They are hand-woven by Nepalese artisans,” says Deirdre Dyson in her slightly hesitant, but irresistibly charming French. “These are unique pieces, made-to- measure according to the customer’s wishes and requirements.” Following on from All at Sea, her previous collection inspired by the rippling of water, this latest collection is named Angles. Here, although the straight-line reigns supreme, the geometry of the pattern is neither off- putting nor minimal, tempered by a palette of the most attractive colours, for example in models such as Freedom and Tension. And rigor doesn’t mean there can’t be a bit of fun – Deidre points out that Can-Can evokes the legs of the world-famous cabaret dancers… Her preparatory sketches are truly remarkable, a feeling shared by a London gallery which asked Deirdre to exhibit them. We can today see them hanging next to works she painted when at the Royal College. Full circle… •
Tapis Tension. Une autre variation autour de l’angle.
Dans sa galerie parisienne ouverte en 2020, on en prend véritablement conscience. Certains tapis sont suspendus au mur comme des tableaux et on est bluffé par la qualité de la composition, la force graphique, les dégradés de couleurs, les reflets de la soie sur fond de laine tibétaine. Et pour ceux qui couvrent le sol, on a des scrupules à marcher dessus. « Ils sont tissés à la main par des artisans népalais, précise Deirdre Dyson dans un français un peu hésitant et enveloppé d’un irrésistible accent british . Ce sont des pièces uniques, mais nous les réalisons aussi sur mesure en fonction de la demande du client. » Sa collection s’appelle Angles, à rebours de la précédente intitulée All at Sea et inspirée par les ondulations de l’eau. Ici, la ligne règne en maître, mais la géométrie du motif
n’a rien de rebarbatif ou minimal, au contraire son dynamisme est tempéré par une palette de couleurs des plus séduisantes, à l’exemple des modèles baptisés Freedom ou Tension. Deirdre y glisse même de l’humour quand elle explique que Can-Can évoque les jambes des célèbres danseuses… Mais surtout, elle prouve son talent, lorsqu’elle montre ses dessins préparatoires. Ils « tiennent », comme on dit, et ont la force d’œuvres d’art. Un sentiment partagé par une galerie londonienne qui a proposé à Deirdre de les exposer. On peut les voir en ce moment à côté de tableaux qu’elle a peint d’après ces mêmes études préparatoires. La boucle est bouclée. •
www.deirdredyson.com
www.deirdredyson.com
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