Linda Jackson Tropical Design

Linda Jackson AO is a leading fashion designer. Forty years ago she shaped and defined contemporary Australian fashion based on an eclectic mix of influences from India, Africa, and Asia.

Linda Jackson: Tropical Design brings together exquisite and rarely seen textile designs from Jackson’s private collection. Working closely with Gallery Curator, Julietta Park, the exhibition presents the full range of her textile designs relating to the countries she visited within the world’s tropic zone, including those inspired by her many years visiting and living in north Queensland.

Tropical Design traces Jackson’s unique creative processes. The textures and colours of the Australian bush led her to experiment with many painting and printing techniques, including the combination of paper stencils, leaves and string, and combining these with gold, copper and silver pigments and fluorescent colours to create complex one-off designs and textile lengths.

To enhance the drama of her exquisitely patterned fabrics, Jackson has cut and sewn them into simple poncho or tunic styled garments that are designed to be worn in layers. Jackson explains that the tunic or poncho style of clothing allows the colours, textures and designs of each fabric to come alive.

Image: Linda JACKSON, Heliconia poncho 1987, handprint on cotton, 108 x 124 cm. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Blueclick Photography