Exhibited 2019: Bath Spa Sion Hill, St Mary’s Calne, 44AD Bath, 2020: The Art Cohort Bath, 2022: Black Swan Arts & Gallery at the Station Frome.
Jesmonite & terracotta (2019 remake)
Brass wax finished air-drying clay & engraved brass dish (1999 original work)
Strange Fruit relates to my current interests in its exploration of the body and ideas of social apathy in accepting unacceptable situations or attitudes. It is provocatively sensual and sexual; somewhere between sex toys and overripe fruit.
It was originally inspired by the exposure of the damage done through the use of DES as a pharmaceutical drug during pregnancy and as a steroid in the meat industry and the ongoing legacy of damage this has caused in physical and psychological sexual & gender differences.
This is a topic that is becoming even more contentious with the growing prevalence of gender-transition treatments available today which may be both a relief for those born as DES sons or daughters or may add to future problems.
Returning to this work has reawakened my feelings about the complexities of both science & religion as unchallenged belief systems and the damage that can occur in the name of improvement.