Following an open call for applications in Autumn 2022, Hannah Sabapathy was awarded a 4-week funded residency. Cove Park’s programme of funded residencies support research, the development of existing and new projects, collaboration, interdisciplinary practice, and the production of new work and ideas. All national and international artists, cultural practitioners, and researchers, working individually and collaboratively in all art forms, in the creative industries, and across disciplines, were eligible to apply. Cove Park’s residencies also support individuals at every stage in their careers.

Hannah Sabapathy is a British–Indian designer based in Dundee, Scotland. She trained as a textile designer at Chelsea College of Art before receiving her masters at the Royal College of Art, London. She is the founder of Plica, a design studio specialising in decorative pattern and colour working to commission by museums and cultural institutions. She works in a variety of materials and scales, including metal, vitreous enamels, lacquer, printed wood and textiles often in collaboration with other artists, designers and manufacturers. She has undertaken residencies at Hospitalfield and at University of Wales Trinity St David. Hannah is currently one of eight artists of colour working in the UK to be selected as part of the prestigious 20/20 programme, a year-long residency and commissioning opportunity hosted by the Decolonising Arts Institute, University of the Arts London.

As part of the Cove Park residency, she will research and examine the impact of colonialism on Indian textile design whilst exploring themes of hybridity and appropriation. Her commissioned work will be permanently acquired by The Harris Museum, Preston, in autumn 2023. 

Featured image by James Champion: Taxonomies Collection, Mimetite, Screenprint, Lacquer, Gold Leaf, Laser-etched Laminate on Birchwood, 670 x 540 x 390mm, 2011 

Image below by V&A Dundee: Plica V&A Dundee Exclusive Collection, Various Sizes, Cold Enamel Folded Brass with Sterling Silver posts, 9ct Gold Rope Chain, Max Width 30mm, Max Length  42mm, 2022