JERSEY; MY CHILDHOOD HOME

2019
paper cutting
circumference - 754cm
height -200cm

“Growing up on Jersey in the Channel Islands for the first eighteen years of my life, I never realised how lucky I was to experience being an islander.  Surrounded by the sea, wild cliff path walks, narrow winding green lanes and diverse beaches; the waves of the sea sculpting the granite rock face. I often crave to return to my island when I think about the expanse of sand dunes in St Ouen and the sunsets after BBQ’s with my family. 

Jersey; My Childhood Home takes the viewer on a journey through all twelve parishes on Jersey and my memories of these locations. Distinguished by their separate crests, every parish is represented on their own panel. 

The vertical compositions unravel narrative imagery which extends from one panel into the next, creating a dialogue between parishes. Paper cut patterns of the sea, sky, grass and sand create unity throughout every panel, suggesting to the audience that the fundamental element of life on an island is to be surrounded by the sea.

As an artist, it is clear to me that I should create artwork from my own perspective of the things I know best.  Jersey will always be my true home; it is where I made my very first childhood memories spent covered in sand and wet from the sea. This piece is intensely personal and throughout the process of creating this artwork, I mused over all my experiences in Jersey and how much they mean to me. I would like other islanders (Jersey Bean’s), to be able to look at this piece and draw from their own unique experiences of life on our ‘rock’. Perhaps I can also entice non-islanders to become curious. How can such a small island of nine by five miles contain so much diversity?”

Exhibited:

2019 - Denmark, Museum for Papirkunst

2021 - USA, National Nordic Museum

2022 - USA, American Swedish Institute