A series of 17 pulpworks reflecting distinctive marks on the walls of the canals in and around London as a result of rising water levels. Watermarks also has a double meaning – as well as referring to the marks created by changing water levels, it also refers to the watermark effect within the pieces. The pieces can be viewed with a light source from behind which reveals the hidden abstract ‘watermarks’ created using different densities of pulp.
The work is created from pulped cotton fibres and pigment dyes. The process involves laying down layers of pulp, wet on wet, using mesh screens. The variation in thickness which gives the watermark effect is created using strips of paper cord of different widths which is pulled away when the pulp is still wet leaving some thin sections. The work was dried slowly in the open air to allow the dyes more time to react to the fibres to intensify the density of the colours.
Exhibited at:
Diorama 1 (D1), London 2004
VZ Gallery, London 2011
Irma Irsara 