Emerge Residency Showcase at Bath Spa University, England

Connected, 2025 Jute liner, forged clay, red ochre, fuller earth and oils, 7 X 3 ft

Connected is an ongoing exploration into the materiality of belonging. Crafted from hand-shredded jute fibre, the work undergoes a ritualistic transformation through tearing, staining, and reshaping. By saturating the domestic jute with raw, earthy pigments—red ochre, forged clay, and fuller’s earth I elevates discarded materials into sculptural forms that mimic the fragility and endurance of the human body.

Developed during my EMERGE Residency at Bath Spa University (2024–2026), this work represents a pivotal shift in my practice toward larger, more tactile installations. The residency provided the studio environment necessary to experiment with the natural interactions between oils and raw pigments, allowing me to "forge" own clay-based dyes. This piece stands as a testament to the "invisible labour" celebrated in my practice—the repetitive, meditative act of hand-shredding and layering that mirrors the slow build of cultural memory.