As well as making work about health and the body, a central part of my practice is to create artwork inspired by others’ stories, be they scientific or personal. My science inspired projects have dealt with cutting edge research as diverse as foetal biomechanics, future cancer treatments and deep ocean invertebrates. Personal stories have inspired work on cancer, memory, and insomnia.

 

I believe that engaging with physical objects facilitates radically different ideas and conversations to solely viewing images (whether analogue or digital), an idea borne outby recent neuroscience research. I work in glass, with metal and other materials, primarily making sculptural objects. I focus on the physical as well as the communicative qualities of the materials and aim to make pieces that people want to touch as well as look at and think about

This pate de verre pillow was made as a contemplation of insomnia, and the hearts of nails that decorate them allude to love and loss that can be the cause of much sleeplessness.

 

Each pillow is formed of a pate de verre shell using a technique that allows the creation of forms with very narrow apertures. In this way, hollow pieces have been shaped like actual entire pillowcases with only a narrow end opening. The nails and other decoration are then fused directly onto the surface of the pieces in the kiln.

 

 Glass 2022

26x12x20cm