Temporary Exhibitions
Helen Brasher
The process of both making and looking at art makes us think. We can lose ourselves, if only for a short period of time, in gazing at a painting, a sculpture, a beautiful piece of ceramic or any work of art that challenges the imagination.
This escape to another world provides solace and relief from life’s burdens. I can think of no better place than a Hospital to offer art in this therapeutic way and hope that, if even in a small way, the work in this exhibition helps to do just that.
Originally a painter I have been printing for the past 30 years. I love the immediacy and unpredictability of print, the way the process itself can produce effects that come as a complete surprise when the paper is lifted from the plate, although admittedly not all surprises are necessarily good ones!
My work is landscape derived. I print semi-abstract, tactile images based on the colours and forms of the coastline. I am drawn to detailed fragments of the landscape, the patterns and textures of rocks, rusting metal, peeling paint - the sense of the past pressing upon the present.
I like to work directly with the landscape, walking, observing and gathering information in sketch books, photographs and found materials.
In the studio I work either in monoprint, which can lead to an almost painterly expression of the subject, or a more intensive process of creating a collagraph printing plate. I create this by cutting into card, scraping and generally altering the surface texture to create deep textural marks. There is a similarity between the destruction of the card surface to create the printing plate and the effects of erosion on the subjects that I often like to depict.
Helen Brasher Autumn 2021 instagram.com/helenbprintmaker/
To purchase prints or for any other information please contact [email protected]
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We aim to enhance the healing environment for patients, visitors and staff here at Dorset County Hospital, through visual art, performance and music. Please help us to continue and expand our programme by donating. Your donations can be used to commission and purchase new artwork to brighten up the hospital or to fund new participatory projects with professional artists and musicians.