![After becoming bored and frustrated by the restraints imposed upon him by his graphic design course, Gabriel Dawe moved from his hometown of Mexico City to Montreal, Canada, and began creating artwork using techniques that were considered women’s work by many of Mexico City’s inhabitants. Inspired by the creations of Anish Kapoor and Victor Vasarely, Dawe’s work developed into huge, viewer absorbing installations made from thousands upon thousands of different colour threads and taking up to 140 hours and four to five weeks to create. While many of the big tapestries and rugs are made by men in Mexico City, the thread used in Dawe’s pieces are usually used on the smaller, less physically challenging looms that are operated by women. By using these materials for a piece which physically exhausts Dawe, the installation subverts traditional constructs and challenges Mexico City’s machismo culture. “I enjoy the endurance aspect of my work, the obsessiveness and repetition” says Dawe, and is he the same in his day to day life? “I’m definitely a perfectionist, but I’m not very organised in my day to day life. I’m kind of a mess, actually. [Laughs]”
Dawe is currently studying for an MFA in Arts and Technology and his work will be on show at the Texas Biennalein April 2010.](http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/jesuisperdu/1686394977/1/tumblr_lcgzj7j4Os1qzt15c)
After becoming bored and frustrated by the restraints imposed upon him by his graphic design course, Gabriel Dawe moved from his hometown of Mexico City to Montreal, Canada, and began creating artwork using techniques that were considered women’s work by many of Mexico City’s inhabitants. Inspired by the creations of Anish Kapoor and Victor Vasarely, Dawe’s work developed into huge, viewer absorbing installations made from thousands upon thousands of different colour threads and taking up to 140 hours and four to five weeks to create. While many of the big tapestries and rugs are made by men in Mexico City, the thread used in Dawe’s pieces are usually used on the smaller, less physically challenging looms that are operated by women. By using these materials for a piece which physically exhausts Dawe, the installation subverts traditional constructs and challenges Mexico City’s machismo culture. “I enjoy the endurance aspect of my work, the obsessiveness and repetition” says Dawe, and is he the same in his day to day life? “I’m definitely a perfectionist, but I’m not very organised in my day to day life. I’m kind of a mess, actually. [Laughs]” Dawe is currently studying for an MFA in Arts and Technology and his work will be on show at the Texas Biennalein April 2010.