Factum Arte has been a long-standing partner in the making of British artist Grayson Perry’s tapestries, for the first time, a peculiar expansion of the medium resulted in the piece Don't Look Down (2019). 

The bright colours of this rug clash vividly with the depiction of a homeless man lying amidst cans and bottles with his dog. The sensitive concept, which took six months to draw, was processed into a digital file at our workshops in Madrid.

Factum's tapestry department then carefully handpicked the 41 wool colours that best matched the colour-proofed paper print: a complex task when dealing with such an amount of colours in a limited space – the finished piece is 2 x 3 meters. 

Isabel Fernandez matching wool colours to the color-proofed print © Oak Taylor-Smith

© Oak Taylor-Smith

© Oak Taylor Smith

The final selection was sent to La Alpujarreña, a carpet and tapestry manufacturing company based in Granada who specializes in the hand tufting technique, which shoots the yarn through the back to the front of the rug or carpet using a small hand-held gun. 
This lengthy process, as each colour has to be tufted separately, was necessary for this elaborate piece, as the technique allows for more accurate detailing and control over small surfaces.

Details of the rug © Oak Taylor-Smith

© Oak Taylor-Smith

© Oak Taylor-Smith

Don't Look Down was displayed at Victoria Miró Mayfair as part of the solo exhibition Super Rich Interior Decoration (25th September - 20th December 2019), among other works.