Needle Trace mineral pigment, acrylic medium, Japanese paper (Kozo-shi) 91 x 90 cm 2017
This body of work is inspired by pine needles from trees outside my studio, which were gathered in patterns by the wind. It was created in Winter 2017, when there were news about refugees every day.
The pine needles on the ground reminded me of humans adrift in the world without a chance to influence their fate.
Yet I also felt it might be a metaphor for many people in a globalised world who may find themselves in new settings through jobs, relationships or curiosity without much strategy or planning. These people - myself included - certainly have choices - but end up moving, drifting and following fate and chance.
The pine needle shape in fact looks just like 人 - the Kanji character for 'Human'. I printed the needles soaked in colour onto Kozo - Japanese mulberry paper.
Needle Trace mineral pigments, hide-glue (膠), Japanese paper (Kozo / Ganpi) , wood board 23.5 x 17 cm each 2022