In 2019, German embroidery artist Jess de Wahls had her works removed from the Royal Academy gift shop after a blogpost – in which she outlined her views on gender identity politics – was deemed transphobic. The Royal Academy has since apologised, emphasising the importance of freedom of speech. Here, Candice Tucker speaks to the artist about the experience, her practice and future collaborations
1. You’ve established yourself as an ?enfant terrible?. Can you explain what that means exactly"
I was branded that, rather, by Hand and Lock, which is this old-fashioned embroidery house in the West End – it’s over 250 years old, I think. I did a bit of work with them over a period of years and I guess it?s because I?m not your average dolly embroiderer. They did a story on me and that?s what it was called and I thought I?ll run with it, it works! I?ve done a lot of vulva embroidery and I?ve got the Big Swinging Ovaries label and I think that?s where it came from and I thought well I guess that?s true because I kind of go against the grain of what people perceive as embroidery. Follow LUX on Instagram: luxthemagazine
2. Your work explores themes such as the environment, contemporary feminism and female liberation. Do you think there is a natural link between these interests"
There has always been a natural link for me. It wasn?t something I set out to do and embroidery wasn?t something I set out to do either – I just fell into...