Chilly Chillies

Remember my post about my chillies? Well all has progressed and I have two dried chillies now for my store cupboard. I did have three but I used one in last night's pasta...they have a definite kick to them! *proud* I am amazed that they have grown as well as they have, considering I planted them in late August. Just goes to show that not all seeds need to be sown in the spring time. These are my winter chilly chillies! I am waiting for the next four to dry out now and then my little jar will be packed. I love this little jar. I found it when I was browsing the shops in Italy with my brother. I love any jar with a latch on it. My collection is growing (both chili and jar). I think they are brilliant.

A Photographic Documentary about Displacement and Presence

This experimental work is about my personal displacement within the environment in which I find myself. Having grown up in South Africa, Italy and various other parts of Europe, and now being in the United Kingdom, I have developed a skewed sense of belonging.

I have been studying the landscape at Hengistbury Head and my relationship to it. It is an area that, in some ways, is reminiscent of South Africa and where I spend a reasonable amount of time. It is a space of exposed natural beauty and it instills a sense of calm.

The following photographs are a documentary of my exploration.The sculpture featured in the photographs is key. It acts as a metaphor for what I am trying to achieve in both the materials from which it is constructed and it’s position within the landscape.

Firstly, the materials of the sculpture are important to the piece; a mixture of charred and drift wood that I found sporadically scattered on the beach at Hengistbury Head. These pieces of wood are not indigenous to the area; they have been left behind by people or have been washed up by the tide. Although these materials are not natural to the location, they still find themselves there, just as I find myself positioned within my environment.

This brings me to the second part, the position within the landscape. I wanted to represent my presence by placing the sculpture, a representation of me, within the landscape from which the materials were found, contrasting the unnatural form of the sculpture using natural materials from their now natural environment.

This work has by no means reached a conclusion. It has been completely exploratory and experimental. I have used sculpture and photography, mediums that I have never before explored, and although this has caused many frustrations; this work has pushed me out of my comfort zone, something that I wanted to do from the outset.

Moving forward I want to explore the aspects of shadow within the landscape. Whether I stay out of my comfort zone and continue with sculpture and photography or whether I move back into print I don't know yet. These images have given me a starting point for a lot more discovery within my practice and keeping an open mind will bring about some interesting results I'm sure.

Bournemouth Collaboration

Last night I took part in TheBigCollab. It was an evening showcasing 30 artists from Bournemouth, encouraging them to meet together and possibly collaborate in the future. Overall the evening was a great success, I wanted to say thank you to the organisers Nicky and Sophie. I look forward to their next event.