Image Copyright the Artist. Photo by Matthew Hollow. Portrait by Jude Cranston
Andrew Cranston
65.5 x 96cm (frame)
"I was a bit nervous about using the ink at first. I was expecting there to be a strong whiff of the sea, and that did come later but initially nothing. I was surprised to find it stiff and set like boot polish but some warm water got it going. It’s nice to use and I like how matt it dries. My piece for the show is, apart from a tiny bit of acrylic, entirely made with the seaweed ink.
My interest initially was building a shape, a hill of marks which as they accumulated suggested to me a mole and of some size. This led me to remembering the Franz Kafka short story titled ‘ The Village schoolmaster or The Giant Mole’. It’s such a mysterious story which Kafka approaches with his characteristic methodical demystifying style. I read the mole as a metaphor of sorts, this animal, never seen let alone understood, hidden, tunnelling underground, undermining some sense of stability and order.” - Andrew Cranston
Exhibitions
Art For Your Oceans: Sotheby's, London (2025), Hastings Contemporary (2025)