Working closely with textiles, painting and installation, Renin’s practice is rooted in her experiences as a woman with mixed British and Turkish heritage. The activity of myth making is used to set the work within an imagined ancient world, inhabited by feminine beings and presented as a fantasy archive of artefacts belonging to it. Informed by her cross-cultural historical research on localised pagan belief systems, folklore and female deities, as well as written and visual depictions of 18th century pleasure gardens, the work addresses issues relating to womanhood, non-conformity and the embodiment of multiple identities. Through the ritualistic behaviour of these beings, the work champions powerful scenes of rebellion, hedonism and femininity, exploring the transformative power of masking and masquerade.
Renin’s visual language is inspired by Eastern miniature painting, Japanese woodblock printing and Turkish textiles. Resulting as tapestry-paintings, wearable pieces and sculptural installations, the revival of craftsmanship within a fine-arts context drives Renin’s practice; the method of dyeing fabrics, mixing dye pastes and creating painted textiles has become an integral part of her work. Through a continuing exploration of materials and modes of presentation, Renin investigates how painting can evolve and expand to create a more immersive experience of narrative.