Ruffles by Lorna Johnson is an art installation celebrating strong female figures, those who ruffled feathers to move society forward and those women who supported them to do so. It recognizes the interdependent relationships of women spanning different social standings, backgrounds and cultures.

Currently installed at Knole, the birthplace of Vita Sackville-West, we are celebrating the bold woman who was passionate about living and loving on her own terms. Vita is famous for her passionate love affairs with both men and women, a prolific career as an author and her vision to create an incredible home and gardens at Sissinghurst.

This site-responsive art installation is currently made up of 132 cushions adorned with hand-sewn ruffles in a variety of fabrics from course cotton to fine silk. These represent the interdependent relationships of women from different backgrounds who supported one another via relationships including as friends, lovers, employers and employees. This year also marks 132 years since Vita was born. The piece is accompanied by a scent inspired by Vita’s gardens, incorporating rose, iris, violet and sweet pea.

Come see and smell ‘Ruffles’ yourself in the Orangery ‘Vita: Discover a story of love and life at Knole’ is on from 29th April – End Oct 2024 | Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0RP

The piece was initially shown in September 2021 at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York (and initially conceived as An agreeable space). This was where the diarist, entrepreneur and mountaineer Anne Lister married her partner Ann Walker in 1834. This was reenacted by the BBC for the first series of Gentleman Jack and in 2018 the church became the first UK site with a history plaque with a rainbow boarder sharing LGBTQ+ history.

The piece consisted of 143 white cushions adorned with hand sewn ruffles in a variety of fabrics including hard wearing cottons through to fine silks to represent a cross section of society. These fabrics, all in muted tones have been used to represent the coming together and interdependency of a cross section of women. The cushions are modest on their own though striking and full of impact when combined on mass, reiterating the celebration of women and what can be achieved together.

Each cushion contained Yorkshire lavender which fills the space with a delicate scent that lingers in the air and provides another sensory element for audiences to engage with.

Press Enquiries
For more information about the project or images and/or interested in hosting this piece, please contact – The Art Court – curator@theartcourt.co.uk

Previous exhibited
Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York – 1-18th Sept 2021, also coinciding with the nationwide Heritage Open days (10-19th September 2021)