I have 12 Ink shoots pieces in my show at The Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh – on until the 24th October. Book to visit 0131 557 1020 or [email protected] or visit online at www.openeyegallery.co.uk
These are made with a dip pen and Japanese ink paste on Lambeth cartridge paper.
I began documenting my Arisaema growing shoots back in 2016 when I first observed the shoots opening their cataphylls and unpacking the amazing plants within. They looked so sculptural, and I immediately began to see them in an anthropomorphic way, communing with each other with their insectile and alien formation.
This Arisaema cilliatum has such a delicate grace which I felt needed to dance across the page. I wasn’t sure initially whether to include 3 or 4 stems… so left myself room to add or not. I really loved the step down from full flower to wrapped spathe to brand new bud and tightly wound leaflets unfurling from its protective sheaves. I love the way it points a single leaflet upwards as it goes through its next growth stage. A challenge with this piece was to keep the foliage softer and to give the inflorescence more punch.
Thanks go to Detail Framing Studio in Edinburgh for the lovely presentation, these pieces are float mounted, allowing the full sheets to sit within the frame space.
