‘105’ & ‘4’
My practice involves printmaking and drawing. I am interested in creating elaborate patterns and designs that often display symmetry, and the illusion of depth. The absence of planning leads to spontaneous outcomes that are as much about the process of creating, as the marks that are made. The repetitive nature of my work requires a considerable amount of patience and time. This has lead me to explore the concept, of whether this time consuming and handmade process, has more value than a digitally machined equivalent, that would take a fraction of the time and effort.
To demonstrate this, I have created two 6ft x 4ft woodcut carvings. One has been hand cut by myself over one hundred hours, and the other has been CNC machine cut only over a few. These woodblocks have been used to make full sized pints of the design also.
By displaying the woodcut blocks and prints alongside each other, the viewer is able to compare and contrast the subtle nuances between the two processes. They can determine which piece they favour, and why certain elements of its manufacturing process have aided this decision.