Carolyn Shepherd
Artist Statement, June 2010:
The industrial landscape inspires me. This body of five works is
a response to the salt industry in Cheshire. Salvaged timber and
mine-working ironmongery, salt crystals, brine and found sound combine
to express the concept of continuity. The cyclic process of salt
sees it change its form in a lifecycle of perpetual renewal. My
influences include David Nash, Miroslaw Balka and Wolfgang Laib.
'A Space for Contemplation on the True
Nature of Impermanence'
This is a dramatic circular construction of charred salvaged industrial
timber. The timber has been fixed together to become a sculptural
form, and the individual pieces used as drawing elements to become
pointed spires, striking shapes and well defined negative spaces.
The circle has an opening through which some items placed upon the
floor are visible. The opening invites viewers to enter the space.
On the floor is a rectangular box made from timber salvaged from
a salt works. The surface of the timber is encrusted with growing
salt crystals, filled with wood ash from the charred timbers and
contains a small, living oak tree. Next to the box is a Tibetan
singing bowl resting on a black mat. Sound from an industrial process
is audible as a subtle but powerful presence that dies away and
then arises again in a continuous cycle.
'Formation'
Set of three square panels of two glass layers mounted on wood cut
from salvaged timber from salt works. Between the glass layers is
a crusting of salt crystals grown organically from liquid brine.
The progression of the three begins with fragmented organic forms
through to fully joined forms. This progression is a reflection
of the organic growth of the salt crystals that continue to grow
if left undisturbed. Trapping them between the layers of glass suspends
this lifecycle by reducing the 'decohydrante' lifecycle of the crystals
that grow from brine in response to ambient moisture.
'H20 - NaCl'
A wall mounted, salt encrusted cabinet roughly constructed from
textured and coarse grained timber, salvaged from the roof of a
salt works, stands ajar to reveal shelves with three rusted hinged
wooden books and a terracotta salt pot. The salt pot is encrusted
with crystals that are spreading from the pot to grow organically
across the shelf itself. Below the cabinet is a desk on which is
placed another rusted hinged wooden book. Pages are lying open inviting
the viewer to read the surface of the wood which is ingrained with
the historic residue of the salt making process and growing salt
crystals. A pair of reading spectacles lies on the page as a trace
of a readers human presence. A test tube rack containing 4 test
tubes lies in front of the cabinet, two containing water and two
containing brine. Although the liquids look the same, the pure water
contains growing algae, whilst the brine is too strong to sustain
life and contains a desiccated seed head.
Website:
www.carolynshepherd.co.uk
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