Finding your Way through created as part of the Aspire Group Show “Traces of Being” on show at Aspex Art Gallery Portsmouth May 2025

Finding Your Way Through
This artwork is inspired by the journey through life. A series of interconnected pathways cross, intertwine, and diverge, symbolising the connections, choices, and experiences that shape our individual journeys. Some routes come together, while others separate and continue in different directions, reflecting the ever-changing nature of relationships and personal growth.
Created using willow the work explores themes of movement, connection, and transition. The organic qualities of the materials evoke a sense of fragility and resilience, mirroring the complexities of life’s pathways. Displayed suspended against a white wall, the piece casts subtle shadows that become an integral part of the work, adding further layers of depth and interaction.

The piece is suspended against a white wall, creating delicate shadows that emphasize its layered and three-dimensional quality.

Sirun
The work was initially inspired by a antiques decorative posy holde, which at first glance resembled a mermaid-like figure. However, on closer inspection it revealed itself to be an oriental-style fish, almost dragon-like in appearance. This shift in perception became a key starting point for the work, prompting an exploration of how meaning and interpretation can change through observation and context.
At the time of making, I was interested in experimenting with manmade synthetic materials and pushing the boundaries of how they might be reconfigured into sculptural forms. The piece pays homage to the original object while offering a personal interpretation, reimagining its flowing, hybrid qualities. Balancing fragility with structure, the work draws on references to aquatic life, natural growth systems, and ornamental design. It reflects on cycles of renewal and the potential for discarded materials to be reconfigured into forms that evoke the natural world while remaining rooted in the industrial processes from which they originate.