The subject matter of my recent practice stems from an incorporation of mail art, gifting, collections/archives, sentimentality, observation & surveillance as well as forms of communication. The main series of my current practice is a collection of pen-based portraits created on postcards. Illustrating head portraits of individuals close to me which I have a personal relationship with. Created using a crosshatch technique to mimic the scriblly nature commonly seen on used postcards. When creating these pieces, a sentimental connection is created not only for myself with the piece by also the individual I have drawn. As once I have finished each piece I will be posting them to each person for them to keep the postcard art themselves. By mailing the art it becomes a part of the globally still active art movement known as postal art which is centred on sending small scale works through the postal service. Creating an “old-fashioned’ form of communication, between myself and the individual, in this digitally dominated time.
By sending the finished pieces to the subjects I am removing the untouchable aspect commonly perceived surrounding displayed artworks. During their period of exhibition, prior to being posted, the audiences who view my artwork are encouraged to engage with it and create their own personal connection with handling the postcards. Pick them up, hold them, engage in each subjects information, move them around on the display and handle them as postcards should be held.
Mae pwnc fy ngwaith diweddar yn deillio o ymgorfforiad o gelf post, rhoddion, casgliadau/archifau, sentimentalrwydd, arsylwi a goruchwylio yn ogystal â ffurfiau ar gyfathrebu. Casgliad o bortreadau a wnaed ag ysgrifbin ar gardiau post yw prif gyfres fy ngwaith presennol. Dangos portread o bennau unigolion sy’n agos ataf y mae gen i gydberthynas bersonol â nhw. Crëwyd gan ddefnyddio dull croeslinellu er mwyn efelychu’r ffurf flêr a welir fel arfer ar gardiau post a ddefnyddiwyd. Wrth greu’r darnau hyn, caiff cysylltiad sentimental ei greu nid dim ond rhyngof i a’r darn ond hefyd rhyngof fi a’r unigolyn a ddarluniwyd gennyf. Unwaith y byddaf wedi gorffen pob darn byddaf yn eu postio at bob person iddynt gadw’r celf cerdyn post eu hunain. Drwy bostio’r gwaith celf bydd yn dod yn rhan o’r mudiad celf sy’n dal yn weithredol yn fyd-eang a elwir yn gelf post sy’n canolbwyntio ar anfon gwaith ar raddfa fach drwy’r gwasanaeth post. Creu math “hen ffasiwn” o gyfathrebu, rhyngof fi a’r unigolyn, yn yr oes ddigidol hon.
Drwy anfon y darnau gorffenedig at yr unigolion rwy’n dileu’r agwedd anghyffyrddadwy sy’n gysylltiedig â gwaith celf a gaiff ei arddangos fel arfer. Yn ystod y cyfnod arddangos, cyn iddynt gael eu postio, caiff y cynulleidfaoedd sy’n edrych ar fy ngwaith celf eu hannog i ymgysylltu ag ef a chreu eu cysylltiad personol eu hunain â’r broses o drin y cardiau post. Eu codi, gafael ynddynt, ymddiddori yng ngwybodaeth pob unigolyn, eu symud o gwmpas ar yr arddangosfa a’u trin fel y dylid trin cardiau post.
