1883

"1883" was conceived simply as an attempt to use lino-cut printing - a technique I enjoy very much - on wool and to colour it in a painterly manner. Wool is a difficult medium for such a method, so it was quite a challenge that I had set myself.

The inspiration for the lino-cut itself came from a recent plane trip, in which I was fascinated by the way in which the sky and land become seamless at altitude. Once I had printed the resultant translation of my sketches, I realized that it reminded me greatly of Munch's sky in "The Scream". I therefore made many copies and coloured them in brightly violent colours.

This use of landscape falls within a continuum of my work, in which landscape itself forms a metaphor - as well as a mirror and an extension - for our relationship with ourselves and with something greater than ourselves. We make the world around us and within us, it seems. The irony of this piece is, of course, that the bright red and yellow sky which so devilled Munch, and seems to make his work seem quite modernly insane, was caused by the explosion of Krakatoa, colouring the whole atmosphere with Mother Nature's own pollution. We live in times that belittle any power greater than ourselves, so I think it is good to have a reminder that there is always great power beneath our feet.