Exploring the Romanticism of Celtic Nations: Amee McCullough,Textile Design (Print)

For Amee McCullough, graduating from DJCAD’s Textile Design course meant exploring the complicated relationship between identity, heritage and aesthetics.

Specialising in print design, her degree show project draws on the romanticism of Celtic nations, especially Scotland and Ireland.

Her work questions whether contemporary engagement with Celtic identities is genuine cultural pride, or simply another trend.

“Personally, I’m half Scottish and half Irish, so I felt it was very on-theme for me,” she said.

“Especially now, with this kind of cultural renaissance happening.”

McCullough’s work reflects on the recent resurgence of Irish and Scottish cultural aesthetics in music, fashion and online spaces.

Referencing artists such as Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap, she notes how Celtic identity has increasingly become intertwined with trend culture.

It’s now “cool” to like KNEECAP, that’s what she’s getting at.

“There’s a really big trend right now around Irish and Scottish culture,” she says.

“Through my collection, I kind of asked myself: am I thinking like this because it’s trendy, or because I actually feel passionate about it?”

Her project interrogates performative identity, asking where the line exists between authentic cultural connection and aesthetic performance.

Through print and textile design, McCullough explores romanticism and nationalism.

Alongside the conceptual focus of her work, McCullough credits her time at DJCAD with helping her develop creatively and professionally.

“I really enjoyed my course,” she says. “I felt like it let me explore a lot of different areas of textiles , especially print, and helped me branch out creatively.

“It also taught me how to talk to other people, how to feel confident in yourself, and how to communicate with industry professionals. It really covers all bases.”

You can check out her work via @ameestextiles on Instagram.