Talking Textiles: The View from the Outside

Words by: Tanya Singh
Photo Credit: Talking Textiles


Each one a layered collage of inspired narratives, Deborah McKellar's work is a tribute to the city of Singapore and its heritage. 


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Originally from South Africa, Deborah McKellar, the artistic mind behind Talking Textiles, moved to Singapore in her 20s while still in the midst of her graduate studies. She completed a degree in fine arts from the LASALLE College of the Arts. "Many of my professors at art school often told me that my work was too decorative. That's probably why even after completing my degree, I felt like something was missing," she shared. After briefly working in Singapore, she decided to go after the missing piece and enrolled in a textile design course at the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales, Australia.

While in Australia, Deborah did an internship at a design house that sparked something in her. "It was an amazing company where I learnt so much more about the world of textiles. I think that was when I realized that this is what I really loved and wanted to do. I wanted to bring my two passions – fine art and textiles – together. I wanted to screen print, mix colors, create patterns, and just paint all day," she explained. That revelation was what led her to move back to Singapore in 2007 and start Talking Textiles.


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Left to right: Deborah's artworks – Pisang Goreng and Blue Lanterns.


"Back then, the government was actively working towards developing the arts and culture scene in Singapore. I saw the landscape transform from a typical developing city to a colorful art hub. However, I still felt like there was a bit of a gap in the market for products that were uniquely Singaporean. A souvenir at that time would have been a plastic Merlion lighter made in China. That's what encouraged me to work on textile products that were representative of the beautiful city I had begun to call home," said Deborah. A part of the drive towards cultural development in Singapore was a competition for a grant for entrepreneurs interested in building a creative business. Talking Textiles was one of the twenty companies that were awarded the grant. "That's how it all began. The story of Talking Textiles is entwined with my journey of self-discovery as an artist and business-owner and how I adapted to a completely new world," shared Deborah. 


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Left to right: Deborah's artworks – In the Mood for Love and Cairnhill Shophouse.


"As a foreigner in Singapore, I feel like I had a fresh perspective – all that surrounded me I found exotic and inspiring. I started my company during a period when an appreciation for local culture was just starting to blossom. At the time it was hard to find products that were uniquely Singaporean. Looking in from the outside, I was able to find inspiration in all the nooks and crannies of Singapore that could have been overlooked by someone who grew up here," explained Deborah. Featuring shophouses, local food, native flora and fauna, and important landmarks, Deborah McKellar's work is both a tribute and a message to Singapore. With an aim to foster appreciation for all things local, the artist borrows motifs and patterns from the city to create artworks and textile pieces that highlight its rich culture and heritage.


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Glimpses of Deborah's work process.


Specializing in screen printing, painting, and textiles, Deborah's artworks unfold in the layers with a multitude of cultural references and narratives. Her process is both methodical and organic, carefully curated and yet a complex collage of details waiting to be discovered. "It usually starts with what is inspiring me at the moment. From pictures that I have been snapping on my phone and related research, I start to form a composition in my mind that works. The color palette plays a huge role for me. In fact, sometimes the colors are the starting point. Once the basics are settled, the artwork usually takes on its own life. There is definitely a lot of adding and subtracting that goes on throughout the creative process," explained Deborah. 


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The Talking Textiles studio in Joo Chiat, Singapore.


In addition to artworks, Deborah McKellar has also recently launched a range of home and office accessories, including cushion covers, placemats, table covers, tea towels, diaries, and more, that are digitally designed in her studio in Singapore using elements from her existing artworks. The production is done by vetted suppliers based in China and India respectively. Deborah is also working on a series of new artworks inspired by the local flora and fauna in Singapore that will be on view at the Affordable Art Fair in November this year.