Joy Ray

“I am walking in the Arsenale, going from Ohh! to Ahh! to Mmmm.... to Oof..., When, in a rather dark room, see something hanging on a wall, at the level of my knee. It looks like a piece of cloth. I think immediately that it must be a left-over piece from some other exhibition, or maybe some torn piece of décor. I look around circumspectively, to avoid being seen, and I take it. My first reaction is: whatever this is, it’s gorgeous, it just speaks of all I love about textile, cloth, marks, brokenness, and repair. Therefore, I decide to take it with me. The Biennale had gifted me this piece of fabric. Once out of the darkness and into the bright light of a sunny October, I look at the fabric again, and I see that there is a name attached to it, and an Instagram account. Back home, I looked it up and found Joy, an inspiring American artist, to whom I communicated the find (which I am so happy I can keep!). I guess it was waiting for me, as the find had the allure of an encounter. ”