Artists Statement

'Written on Water'
Louisa Bannister

"My work always begins with observational drawing. I enjoy the process of drawing which helps me to clarify and refine ideas and concepts. The finished piece of work will usually be three-dimensional but the origins will always be in observational and exploratory drawing. I find the process of drawing itself immensely satisfying and I am always interested to see the drawings of other artists. I respond to the personal, visceral and intuitive nature of mark making. My work is rooted in a personal instinctive reaction which expresses pure feeling."

Louisa Bannister is an artist who is primarily interested and curious about the linear qualities in the world around her. In her previous work, and in her drawings, she uses line to explore and understand the observed landscape. Using a range of materials, such as wire, latex and thread, she has created sculptural work that explores the tension and complexity of line.

'Written On Water' is a huge sculptural installation inspired by the movement of a stream. Louisa spent a week in the Snowdonia mountains, producing observational drawings of the landscape, and then focusing on barriers and objects in the landscape that define boundaries, such as fences, gates, walls, and then eventually, the stream. The drawings, digital photographs and the recorded sound of the stream in motion inspired a new and rapid way of creating lines to describe her response to the water. She was "fascinated by the rhythms and structures, the qualities of light and shade and above all, the rapidly changing nature of the stream."

The form of the work reflects something of the fluidity of the stream, and it has been created so as to form a boundary across the gallery space. It is constructed from several hundred 'glue-drawings', hung from a length of curving steel, evoking the sinuous elegance of a flowing stream. The glue has an almost metamorphic quality. The lines can assume the quality of ice, but it is essentially ephemeral, absorbing the light, movement and colour surrounding the form to communicate its mood. It has a solid yet fragile and evanescent presence.

Sketchbook drawings, digital photographs and experiments with media were considered and reflective and were a crucial part of the process of constructing the work. She experimented for some time with the process of mark making before arriving at a 'drawing' style that satisfied her and enabled her to construct the work. The texture of the glue was important, enabling her to create fluid and complex lines which held their shape. Once embarked upon the creation of the 'glue-drawings' the work developed quickly. She used an industrial glue gun, drawing into the air, and then laying the glue in long troughs of water to solidify their form.

It is impossible not to be moved or intrigued by the physical impact that the work creates. The dominant mood inspires a sense of tranquillity and stillness. Paradoxically the individual 'glue-drawings' are vigorous and intricate. Louisa invites the viewer to come closer to find the delicate and sinuous qualities within each complex calligraphic form, whilst also wanting to evoke a wider sense of reflection and calm. The work explores the surface quality of water and its properties of reflection. It has a quiet, contemplative and spiritual mood.

"I am intrigued and inspired by artists who use everyday materials on a scale that inspires wonder in the viewer. I am particularly interested in the drawings of Rebecca Horn and the installations of Cornelia Parker which both excite and invite the viewer into a deeper contemplation of the work. I am always moved and inspired by the work of Eva Hesse, particularly her rope pieces and drawings."

Louisa Bannister and New Media
"In creating this piece I explored a range of possibilities using what might be described as new media. These included using the recorded sound of the stream to create an electronic image which responded to, and was created by, the nuances of sound. I also took a series of digital photographs which I worked on to create a range of computer generated images and drawings."

Louisa Bannister - September 2003