Benjamin Shine, a British multi-disciplinary artist, is renowned for his breathtaking work with tulle, a fabric commonly associated with ballet tutus. His innovative use of tulle explores themes of energy, impermanence, and the interplay between spiritual and superficial forces.
Shine’s fascination with fashion began during his time at Central Saint Martins in London. Daily walks past a fabric store brimming with tulle sparked his creativity. “One day, I have to do something with that,” he thought.
In 2013, Shine’s career soared when designer Riccardo Tisci incorporated three of his pieces into Givenchy sportswear. His work soon found homes in prestigious collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the London Design Museum.
Shine’s installation, “Seeing Through the Material,” at Bergdorf Goodman features tulle sculptures forming exquisite female portraits. “I’m thrilled to exhibit this series in New York,” Shine said. “These handmade tulle flows represent a realm beyond the physical—energy, thoughts, and emotions. I aim to inspire self-reflection in an age of materialism and distraction.”
Shine discovered his tulle technique serendipitously, noticing the unique tones created by a crumpled piece of tulle on his studio floor. Experimenting with pressing and pleating the fabric with an iron, he honed his skills over several years, now adeptly “painting” with the iron.
“Tulle’s transparency can mimic smoke, energy streams, or apparitions in a way that glass or acrylic cannot,” Shine explains. “The sculptural quality of tulle offers a surreal and subtle visual effect unmatched by other mediums.”
Shine’s love for tulle is rooted in its hexagonal holes, reminiscent of honeycombs and fishnets. Coming from a family in the garment industry, Shine uniquely designs by incorporating people into the fabric, rather than the other way around.
