‘Where we collide’ exhibition is a process-led body of work that invites viewers to experience natural landscapes through the lens of abundant colour locked within ecosystems that are now, or once were, submerged by the ocean.
‘Where we collide’ presents the collaboration between the artist, the studio, and the natural environment through two and three dimensional artworks. I have gathered colour from geological land formations that have been shaped by the surge of the sea, tectonic plains that have risen from deep below surface level, and aquatic-ecosystems that are sustained by the changing tides . Approaching the studio as an experimental laboratory I employ processes that are informed by the elemental forces present in the landscape. Heat, pressure and water allow me to synthesise organic matter such as limestone, algae and urchins into pigment, paint and ink.
Beyond documenting the process, this body of work opens a dialogue between myself as the artist, the materials, and the landscape. I bury canvas underground allowing the landscape to imprint itself upon the material. I drip, pour and blush colour onto paper and glass, allowing the hues to soak and blend across the surface. As the colours seep into the fibres of the pages they settle into their own rhythm, as they do in nature.
The expressive artworks, seen as a whole, are gentle and balanced. Dappled textures are contrasted against precious details. Viewed up close, the alchemic reactions of the natural pigment echo that of the shoreline’s ecosystem, ultimately creating a keen sense of the environments to which the works respond. ‘Where we collide’ oscillates between scientific alchemy and intuitive mark-making, showcasing a deep material enquiry into oceanic ecosystems and the elemental forces at play in these landscapes.
Opening Saturday 30th October at The Hyde Bridge, Sligo.
Remains on view until Tuesday November 23rd.
Open 11-3 Tuesday - Friday, 11-4 Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday.
