Email: paulamlewisfineart@gmail.com
Portfolio
2026
'Trees Are Felled Every Day'
Mirror glass, print transfers, ink, leaves. 30.5cm x 30.5cm x 30.5cm
‘Trees Are Felled Every Day!’, follows the line of questioning which explores examples of humanity’s relationship with nature, using the events surrounding the Sycamore Gap tree.
It also highlights perceptions of this relationship whilst bringing into focus the question of how it is valued. How we value nature, if we value nature, when we value nature. The 3D sculpture is in the form of a dice made of salvaged and deteriorated mirror tiles. The dice acting as a vehicle for the images, is also a symbol of chance, and the dots upon the facets adding other layers to this visual communication, value and representation.
The patterns on the mirror glass caused by the application of adhesive which removed the silver reflective surface, makes dramatic marks which are then inflicted on the image underneath.
The dice shows images from different stages of what seems, a never-ending story. The twists and turns or success and failures of the relationship between ‘mankind’ and nature; a distressed relationship.
The dots displayed with each image have links to them, some stronger than others, but are for the viewer to define.
Where the mirror surface has survived, any reflected view of its environment or viewer, is fragmented and disrupted by the image of these events.
Sycamore leaves put inside the cube can be seen through the interrupted mirror. These may go unnoticed by the viewer, overlooked, as so often nature is.
‘Butcher's Hook’ focuses on questioning humanity’s relationship with nature and what that perceived relationship is.
Using salvaged panes of clear glass (120cm x 63.5cm), with misdirection in mind and inspired by artist, Teresa Margolles, I created a typical pastoral scene of farm animals in rural pastures. The scene belies the origins of the glass which was used to cover a display of butchered meat for sale in a butcher's farm shop. Relational questions of humanity with nature are highlighted by the juxta positioning of ‘cute’ animals with the actual purpose of their breeding and the structure of the landscape. One of the panes of glass retains a sticker advertising the different credit and debit cards taken in the sale of the meat. This speaks to the issue of value.
2026
'Butcher's Hook'
Glass, ink, wood. velvet. 130cm x 78.5cm
2026
'It's Just a seed'
Nature’s ingenious design, the samara, is a strong metaphor for the potential for success and failure, an endeavour mirrored and shared by humanity. The Sycamore samara, like any other seed/reproductive system, has evolved over Millenia. Adaptations to previous systems are through evolution, survival of the fittest, natural selection etc.
This sculpture puts manmade elements together as suggested equivalents to the ingenious design of the samara, highlighting how incredible the samara is. By its own design, it has a unique method of aerodynamic transport combined with all that's required to secure germination, to give the next generation the best odds for success; all packed into a capsule – a samara.
The manmade and the natural samara are twinned, both are sourced from nature, but sit in juxtaposition and in opposition. Is this humanity's relationship with nature?
Willow, plaster, acrylic paint, nylon fabric, paper, glass, aluminium. 160cm x 118cm
The samara seed is my found metaphor for success and failure and their interplay with potential. The suspended sculpture 'Potential' is a celebration of nature, stirring an appreciation of this often-overlooked object, which has evolved to maximise success in the face of potential failure.
The suspension of the samara (6 x 4 ft samara), from the ceiling allows for a greater impact on the viewer from a distance and at close quarters. The viewer can walk under and around the installation to view the forms and the variety of text/formulae. The size of the samara and their positioning fosters a ‘child-like’ view for the viewer, triggering a child-like wonderment of the seeds; a reawakening of an appreciation of natures evolutionary design.
2025
'Potential'
Willow, plaster, acrylic paint, metallic ink.
208cm x 407cm
'The Judgement' was a 3D response from the infographic 'Success - Failure'. An important section of the infographic depicts who and how success or failure of an idea, task, objective is judged. Each 'head' suggests a different form of judgement - internal judgement, undisclosed judgement, superficial judgement etc. The mirror elements reflect the heads environment and the viewers gaze - who's judging who?
2025
'The Judgement'
Plaster, plastic and flexible mirror.
20cm x 116cm
' Success - Failure' is an infographic depicting the interplay of success and failure in human endeavour. A fantasy machine is the vehicle for this visual language, full of icons, symbols and metaphors.
2024
'Success - Failure'
Ink, pen, graphite on card.
102cm x 36cm
