MA Fine Art exhibition at Aberystwyth School of Art. I was awarded a Distinction for developing this new work and developing a revitalised research and materials led Practice.
This is the culmination of two years exploring and researching amorphous carbon and the action of destructive distillation, this exhibition unearths narratives of labour, loss and transformation. It is an exploration of the unknown.
These once robust sculptural structures were transformed into delicate carbon or charcoal forms using pyrolysis (applied heat in the absence of oxygen. The energy of sacrifice, the ritual of repetitive, labour-intensive action, the transformation using fire all became central to the work. The transient, fragile state and structure, the essence of matter transformed to carbon reminds us of our vulnerability and that everything is connected. Our place in the world is a precarious one yet it allows us to make connections and feel joy and sorrow in the shared energy within the web of life and the sublime beyond what we think we know.
Through the ancient craft of charcoal making I attempt to reveal the moment of transformation. Through an intimate ritual in alchemy, potent energy is released and stored within a continual cycle. The exciting breathless inferno of forced decomposition transforms perceived life back to its amorphous essence, carbon.
I use experimental slow film to attempt to capture energy and transformation. I made the film "The Journey Matters' following on from my 'Physical Carbon' film made for my Constructive Distillation Exhibition.
Alchemy and the journey from tree to ink investigates the literal transformation of materials into visual and written language.
I once again pushed against new techniques and the intensive process of creative frottage (rubbings). These are actually more like a dry relief print from the solid material itself. I make complex, time consuming, meditative origami forms that were then carbonised. For each frottage or rubbing/print I crushed a complex carbon paper sculpture, destroying or sacrificing it to the technique, trying to capture the energy of collapse. it's disaster that brings growth and new beginnings from the dust, new opportunities for growth.
The Art of Not Knowing. The School of Art, Aberystwyth University
This is the culmination of two years exploring and researching amorphous carbon and the action of destructive distillation, this exhibition unearths narratives of labour, loss and transformation. It is an exploration of the unknown.
Self portrait folding modular origami
These once robust sculptural structures were transformed into delicate carbon or charcoal forms using pyrolysis (applied heat in the absence of oxygen. The energy of sacrifice, the ritual of repetitive, labour-intensive action, the transformation using fire all became central to the work. The transient, fragile state and structure, the essence of matter transformed to carbon reminds us of our vulnerability and that everything is connected. Our place in the world is a precarious one yet it allows us to make connections and feel joy and sorrow in the shared energy within the web of life and the sublime beyond what we think we know.
Sacrificed To a Breathless Inferno. Recycled & carbonised sculpture on
Iron Tray
Through the ancient craft of charcoal making I attempt to reveal the moment of transformation. Through an intimate ritual in alchemy, potent energy is released and stored within a continual cycle. The exciting breathless inferno of forced decomposition transforms perceived life back to its amorphous essence, carbon.
Sacrificed To a Breathless Inferno. Recycled & carbonised origami modular sculpture on
Iron Tray
I use experimental slow film to attempt to capture energy and transformation. I made the film "The Journey Matters' following on from my 'Physical Carbon' film made for my Constructive Distillation Exhibition.
Alchemy and the journey from tree to ink investigates the literal transformation of materials into visual and written language.
I once again pushed against new techniques and the intensive process of creative frottage (rubbings). These are actually more like a dry relief print from the solid material itself. I make complex, time consuming, meditative origami forms that were then carbonised. For each frottage or rubbing/print I crushed a complex carbon paper sculpture, destroying or sacrificing it to the technique, trying to capture the energy of collapse. it's disaster that brings growth and new beginnings from the dust, new opportunities for growth.
Space 7 Carbon Frottage on Paper
