Sara Bannerman-Haig
MA Fine Art
The root of my work came from my interest in the natural world. I have been drawn to nature, birds, the sea and been a sailor, walker, windsurfer and canoeist for a long time. My interest in the wind stemmed from this, along with my awareness of how the elemental force of the wind is invisible to the eye.
My practice emerged from using a constructed set up on the back of a sailing boat, using paper and an ink pen to explore the mark making as it took place by the movement of the wind. I wanted to make the invisibility of the wind visible through the mark making.
I have done several small research projects charting differences and similarities in the mark making process using this set up; the same time of day, the same equipment, the same length of time, one hour. The weather forecast for the day was a significant factor in the recording process.
The initial mark making with the wind led me to explore more widely, experimenting further with mark making on mediums such as calico, silk, acetate and Perspex. I became interested in other forms of mark making through experimental contemporary stitch and by using an array of materials, e.g., sailing twines, wires, ropes.
My approach is practice led and intuitive, allowing for creativity, spontaneity, responsiveness and improvisation. More recently in my practice I became interested in bridging the gap between 2D and 3D.
My profession is in the field of psychoanalysis; therefore, I pay attention to the unconscious process and issues and themes emerging as I practice.
