The series Mes-tissages explores the complexity of cultural convergences, identity and memory. Drawing from his own experience as an immigrant – born and raised in Kenya, and residing in France for more than half of his life – Evans questions what it means to belong simultaneously to several places.
From a collection of pictograms, signs and urban symbols found in places where he lived, traveled, he revisits the patterns of textiles like khanga or batik. Evans develops a personal and symbolic visual language from communication codes loaded with local meanings. Each pictogram selected is digitally transformed into an original design and printed on paper or fabric. Two distinct patterns are cut into strips and woven by hand, interweaving the different signs into a unified abstract composition. This process has a strong metaphorical significance. Weaving becomes a visual articulation of human movement and the complexity of navigating within the social fabric. The resulting works, which he describes as imaginary abstract landscapes, unfold into texile sculptures.
