Origins: Green & Gold.

In the ‘Origins’ series, Neville investigates her maternal ancestry. Through obsessive stitching, Neville searched for common threads connecting her to her distant (and deceased) family. Family portraits are transferred onto cotton: grandmother, mother and a self-portrait. The cotton cloth is soaked in Rooibos Tea (native to South Africa), her mother’s favourite drink. ‘Green & Gold’ refers to the sporting colours of South Africa. Neville’s grandmother was a provincial athlete; her mother is a World Masters Athletic champion. The metallic thread and bead colours signify the medals won. With no interest in sport herself, Neville looks to the textiles and fibre-related crafts that run in the family blood to identify herself with her lineage.