Perceptions
Current work and upcoming exhibition November 2024
This area of focus came about while exploring printmaking during the time of our pandemic. A time of uncertainty and dramatic changes in our behaviour as a society. A time of distancing and of questioning our purpose and values and even how we identify with our selves and others.
In reflecting on my experiences of this time, I began to explore the purpose and reasons behind our mask-wearing and how it impacted and us as individuals and as a society. How the distancing and lockdown affected our social relationships and our relationship with ourselves. Since then some of us have returned to our usual patterns and resumed our usual routines and roles, while others have been impacted in different ways, and some whose lives have forever changed.
In this section of work, I challenge the viewer to reflect on how they may still be wearing masks. How these masks may be protecting ourselves from the scrutiny of others, masks that we build, to present to the world, how we build identities that we wish others to perceive. How then do we truly know ourselves or others? Do we always hide behind our masks and projections? How do others perceive us through what they see and experience? How has society impacted on our identities and the roles we take up?
In these pieces, I present images that on the surface present an identity, but through my process of adding colour, lines, mark making, and patterns I attempt to break down, add to, and alter the images and I leave it to the viewer to query what they perceive and what they may relate to.
Sun King
Multi-Block Lino Print
4 Colours on Japanese Hosho 90gms Paper
Limited Edition 23
This print is based on children's masks and how the wearing of them adds a sense of protection, fun, and mystery both to the wearer and the viewer. It can also beg the question, when do we first become conscious of how we and others view ourselves. How and when do we develop our self-perceptions and desires to be other than what we are?
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There are some prints available.
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Baccus in Scarlet
Multi-Block Lino Print
4 Colours on Fabriano Rossapina 220gms Paper
Limited Edition 15
This print is based on a sculptural piece from the Potsdam Place Gardens, Near Berlin in Germany. The name of the piece is unknown to me, but it suggested to me a well-to-do male identity that plays the role of a carousing partygoer. Appearing to be carefree, spontaneous, and uncaring of his impact on others.
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There are some artist proofs available.
Mortos In Amber
Multi-Block Lino Print
5 Colours Hosho Japanese 90gms
Limited Edition 25
This print is based on a sculptural piece from the Neptune fountain in the Alexanderplatz, Berlin in Germany. This figure is known as the Vistula, a river once within the borders of Germany, but now flowing through Poland. The figure prompted the idea of continual change, and how nothing remains the same, including, how we perceive ourselves and others.
In keeping with my use of using classical statues as sources and using names of Greek and Roman deities, Mortos is the deity that heralds the arrival of inevitable changes.
There are some prints still available
Felicity in Green
Multi-Block Lino Print
4 Colours on Hosho Japanese 90gms Paper
Limited Edition 25
This print is based on a sculptural piece from the Pantheon Fountain in Rome. Fountains were the clean public water supply for the Romans living in the confines of the city. They were built by both public and private contributions. This piece reminded me of the roles that we take up as givers, those that supply and nourish others. Those that herald life and health. This is part of the reason for the inclusion of cherry blossoms.
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There are some prints still available.
Janus-Red Blue
Multi-Block Lino Print
2 Colours on Japanese Hosho Paper
2 Prints
This image is the result of some experimentation with pre used blocks. I wanted to explore the idea of overlapping drawn images with various colours to see how it would work. Like most of these images, this is also named after a Roman deity. Janus
Behind the Mask
Multi-Block Lino Print
4 Colours on Fabriano Rossapina 220gms Paper
Limited Edition 15
This print is based on a sculptural wooden mask from Guatemala. I have always been fascinated by the carved and 3-dimensional forms of wooden masks. I always found the strong emotional expression and the symbolism of the headwear intriguing. This is one of my first forays into playing with the image of the mask with strong colour and lines.
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There are some artist proofs available.
Little Pink Mask
Little Red Mask
Little Purple Mask
Multi-Block Lino Prints
each with 4 Colours on Fabriano Rossapina 220gms Paper
Limited Edition Red Mask
Limited Variable Edition Pink and Purple Mask
These masks are small studies that were inspired by my earliest mask print 'Behind the Mask'. I had been toying with the idea of making a similarly loose image but ended up with two as I couldn't choose one. Colour and expressive lines are my focus here, I am always learning about the impact of various colour combinations and how we as viewers perceive them and take meaning from them. It always surprises me which colours viewers like and why.
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