Meg Tonkin meets Kim Winter
Back at the beginning of the year, I had the pleasure of learning beginners’ basketry and weaving techniques from the master herself – Kim Winter. Over three days, I practised looping, weaving and twisting with wire. This was one of those skills I never thought I would be able to try, let alone one I had considered using my favourite medium – wire – for. So I was in for a treat when Kim shared some of her vast knowledge with me.
Tucked away in rainy Brixton, Kim and I drank lots of tea while I examined examples of her work demonstrating the many possibilities offered with basketry. She showed me woven wrapped rocks, twisted paper sculptures and many more.
Having a fascination with wire, I quickly decided to use it for my first attempt – and it turned out to be particularly beginner-friendly. Because wire holds its own shape, there is much more freedom when using it as a weaving material. If you let go, it stays where you put it, and you can easily go back and adjust things. I started by trying some simple looping techniques under Kim’s watchful eye, while she worked on her piece for the upcoming Dictionary exhibition.
A fun fact for you is that Kim’s work was the first thing I photographed at the 2025 Any Other Business exhibition, which was where first encountered PRISM! Coincidentally, Kim and I ended up being neighbours in the 2026 exhibition, so I got to see the hang of her work, which was quite a spectacle.
But watching the behind-the-scenes process was just as impressive. Kim continuously twisted strips of dictionary pages together, densely building almost skeletal forms that held their shape wonderfully. The process was painstaking, particularly when you consider how tiny the strips were when she started and how enormous the finished forms became.
I had become familiar with most of the smaller pointed pieces (which sat at the entrance to the exhibition) in my visits to Kim, so when the huge floor-to-ceiling structure was unveiled I was gobsmacked. I felt very proud to have my work situated next to hers, as well as all the artists in our section, as they all worked together so fluidly.
Dictionary 2026: Kim’s work (left and right) with mine peeking in the back
My following experiments were the Dumbbell Turnip, the Wisp and the Hairy Bowl, all affectionately nicknamed post-creation, as each of their final forms was a surprise (thanks to my beginner’s skills). I was very proud of the base of the black and red Hairy Bowl, even though the final shape ended up kind of awry.
Wire basketry also is quite convenient because you can distort it significantly after finishing weaving. Wisp tilted as I was making it due to my slightly wonky technique, so I curved it sideways even more to make that bit more visually interesting. Also worth noting is how Kim managed to get me to actually use colour in my work for once – you can’t say no to the basketry master! Although upon reflection, I remembered them being much more colourful so you can form your own opinion based on my images …
I cannot write more of this blog without mentioning one of my favourite things Kim showed me she had made - the tomato basket! Formed from dried tomato stalks, this bowl nestles one plump tomato cosily, and I think this is such a humorous yet creative invention. I know many an individual that would adore this fun little tomato cradle.
The hardest thing about the weaving I found was keeping it tight and consistent, even with the use of wire. At times when I was getting slightly frustrated with my lopsided weave, Kim would swoop in and insist I lean into it and let it affect the piece – creating some very interesting shapes indeed! Obviously if I wanted to make a fully functional cubic basket, for example, I would need to lock down the consistency in my technique, but for my intended goal of abstract sculptural practice pieces I was surprised in how much I had learned in such a short time. I think it also wouldn’t be too tricky to get back into when I use these skills in the future – it just takes a bit of practice.
I’m curious to see what will happen with my wire artwork now that I know some of the basketry basics, especially with thin bendy metal wire which would juxtapose really nicely with the delicate looping created using her techniques.
Kim really has the knack for all things basketry, which is surprising considering she only started learning it in 2019 (previously creating soft felted textiles) highlighting the true skill she has built in less than a decade! She has gone on to teach basketry at Morley College and is also a member of the Basketmakers’ Association.
I would like to thank Kim for her wonderful words of wisdom and patience in teaching me and would recommend anyone not already following her Instagram to check out more of the beautiful work she creates! (@kimwinter_artist)
Thank you Kim!