Monday 22 April 2013

Janet Hodgson (the Enfield Poltergeist)


Silk, paint, burn holes, 140 x 140cm

Janet Hodgson gained notoriety in 1977 in what became known as the case of the Enfield Poltergeist. Eleven-years old at the time she claimed that she was possessed by the spirit of the deceased, foul-tempered former resident of their north London semi. The Hodgson family reported furniture moving through the air, objects flying towards witnesses and incidences of Janet levitating above her bed. The case drew nationwide interest, making the front page of the papers. The Hodgson's neighbours started a campaign to force the family off the estate.

Lately I have been thinking about the similarities between what we think of ghosts and what we think of as art. To name a few, both are representations, both invoke moral panic and both provide very subjective experiences. I have always thought of my silks as a little ghostly, how they move when caught by a draft. Will blog soon of more findings.

Saturday 6 April 2013

Silk drawings





A teacher at college once said to me that all my work on silk was about the drawings and not the other way round. One thing's for sure, I really enjoy making these.