Alice Aldis2025
Ordinary Ornamentation
What does ornamentation look like today? Where does it exist? And who decides what counts as ornament?
This project explores a shift in ornamentation - moving from grand, traditional ornament towards subtle, often overlooked details. From embossed toilet paper patterns to intricate prints inside security envelopes, these functional but decorative elements challenge the boundaries of what ornamentation can be.
By engaging with a community of collectors who celebrate these unnoticed details, the project evolved into a reimagining of contemporary ornamentation. These collected patterns are archived, catalogued, and reinterpreted on ceramic tiles, plates, and in publications, giving temporary ornament new permanence.
This ‘low-value’ ornamentation is experienced in new ways. The toilet paper embosser, engraved with a V&A ornamental print, highlights the contrast between disposable decoration and the ‘high-value' ornament preserved in museums. This project confronts how we define, value, and perceive ornamentation today, and what symbols, patterns, and designs shape our contemporary ornament.
Collectors:
Dan Schreck - abstractcollage.com
Ethan Hulbert – ethanjhulbert.org / www.perplexia.art
James Folta – www.jamesfolta.com
