“Railway trains only begin to exist when they are derailed…aeroplanes achieve existence only when they are hijacked” (Perec 2010)

 

I attempt to express delicacy and fragility through subject and material - I tend to focus on nature, in particular butterflies, for their beautiful and unique scale designs, colours and visual effects; I attempt to reflect their dainty structures within my designs as well as through the material I use to print upon.

My interest in butterflies is for their beauty in the natural world of which many people take for granted, and with many species becoming endangered, butterflies risk becoming a missing sight from our landscapes. In response to this decline, I aim to create work that is intricate and detailed to hold the viewer's attention for an extended period of time, in hope of prompting an air of contemplation towards the subject of butterflies.

 

I have taken an interest towards installation art as it allows the viewer to have a personal connection and therefore, a more meaningful experience with the work displayed; my main inspirations include: Hans Haacke and contemporary artist Neve Clarke. I mainly work with lino because it allows a higher level of control over the designs I create and print, whilst giving me complete immersion into the designs I carve. The permanence of the marks made, and the fragility of the carved lines connect with the qualities of a butterfly with their breakable, fragile and easily blemished wings. 

Perec, G., (2010). An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris. Edited by M. Lowenthal. Wakefield Press.