My Artistic Work
Graduate exhibition 2021
Creative and Therapeutic Arts (BA)- Asthma art trail
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Materials used: coloured ink, watercolour paint, paint markers, prescription and medication information paper and gold flakes.
I present to you, an imagined journey of an individual with asthma walking from the GP surgery to the pharmacy, drawing from my own personal experiences. The trail includes 6 drawings representing an asthmatic symptom/ feeling, with accompanying QR codes linking to sound pieces with calming music and words of support for the journey.
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Nervous
This first piece in the series represents the feeling of nerves causing a fast heart beat that an asthmatic may have before heading on their walk, because they know they will get out of breath and may be worried of an asthma attack.Â
Image description: A5 drawing of a heart with lines around it to show fast beats in black on top of an abstract background of multicolour ink shapes and gold flakes, the bottom right corner reads 'you got this'. The drawing is inside an A4 clear plastic frame with a QR code linking to a sound piece at the bottom right. Displayed at Ashgrove surgery Pontypridd.Â
Sound transcript: Slow nervous breathing moving to calming music and birds and water sounds, then 'Take some calm deep breaths, you got this don't worry, stop as many times as you need to, lets go'. (around 30 seconds long).
Icy fire
This second piece in the series represents the feeling of the cold air burning on the inside as an asthmatic may be breathing faster at this point in the journey.
Image description: A5 drawing of lungs in black on top of an abstract background of multicolour ink shapes and gold flakes, with mostly blue layers of colour behind the lungs for the icy fire effect. The bottom right corner reads 'you are in control'. The drawing is inside an A4 clear plastic frame with a QR code linking to a sound piece at the bottom right. Displayed outside the Muni arts centre Pontypridd.
Sound transcript: Fast breathing moving to calming music and birds and water sounds, then 'Ok, your breathing might be getting faster and the air feeling so cold, yet burning all the way down. But don't be embarrassed, take a break, you are in control'. (around 30 seconds long).
Tight
This third piece in the series represents the feeling of an asthmatics tight swelling chest when they may be having difficulty breathing at this point in the journey.
Image description: A5 drawing of a persons chest area with chains locked around it in black, on top of an abstract background of multicolour ink shapes and gold flakes. The bottom right corner reads 'you are strong'. The drawing is inside an A4 clear plastic frame with a QR code linking to a sound piece at the bottom right. Displayed outside Rhi's cafe Pontypridd.
Sound transcript: Fast wheezy breathing moving to calming music with birds and water sounds, then 'Your chest may be tightening now, but don't panic, pause, take your pump if you need to, you are strong, not far to go now'. (around 30 second long).
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Restricted
This fourth piece in the series represents the feeling of air not reaching or properly filling up the lungs that an asthmatic might have at this point in the journey.
Image description: A5 drawing of the inside of a throat/windpipe with a stone inside showing the air not being able to get through in black, on top of an abstract background of multicolour ink shapes with gold flakes. The bottom right corner reads 'you are going to be ok'. The drawing is inside an A4 clear plastic frame with a QR code at the bottom right linking to a sound piece. Displayed opposite Specsavers Pontypridd town centre.
Sound transcript: fast short breathing moving to calming music with birds and water sounds, then 'Air might feel like it fills your throat but not your lungs, but you are going to be ok, a drink can help a little here, keep going you can do it'. (around 30 seconds long).
Giant weight
This fifth piece in the series represents the feeling of pain from a heavy and tired chest an asthmatic may feel at this point in the journey.
Image description: A5 drawing of a giant boot standing on a persons chest in black, on top of an abstract background of multicolour ink shapes with gold flakes. The bottom right corner reads 'IÂ believe in you'. The drawing is inside an A4 clear plastic frame with a QR code at the bottom right linking to a sound piece. Displayed in the alleyway opposite the Card factory Pontypridd town centre.
Sound transcript: fast struggling breathing moving to calming music with birds and water sounds, then 'Your chest may feel heavy like a giant is standing on you, but this will ease, you are going to complete this journey, IÂ believe in you'. (around 30 seconds long).
Relax
This fifth piece in the journey represents the feeling of relief an asthmatic person may feel on completion of the walk/ journey.Â
Image description: A5 drawing of a person sitting on a bench in black, on top of an abstract background of multicolour ink shapes with gold flakes. The bottom right corner reads 'you have achieved something today to be proud of'. The drawing is inside an A4 clear plastic frame with a QR code linking to a sound piece in the bottom right. Displayed inside Boots at the pharmacy section, Taff street Pontypridd.
Sound transcript: Slow controlling breathing moving to calming music with birds and water sounds, then 'you made it, you are amazing. you have achieved something today to be proud of, relax for however long you need now, well done'. (around 30 seconds long).
Creative access resource 2021
This access resource was created to aid visually impaired gallery visitors at the National Museum of Wales.Â
My chosen art work for my access resource to accompany was a photograph by David Hurn, capturing three children playing cats cradle in the pill area of Newport during the 1970's.
I wanted the gallery visitors to be able to experience what the children would have in the image, so I created a sound piece including my imagined exchange between the children that day by enlisting family members as my voice actresses.Â
A knitted bag accompanied this with some string inside for listeners to participate and follow instructions to play cats cradle. A pocket was made inside the bag to house the sound player securely with a tactile play button made with foam, faux leather and felt. Then a QR code was made on the side for alternative listening.
Arts and health 2019
This piece was created for my interpretation of arts and health. As I have severe asthma, I wanted to create an interactive piece that allows the viewer to experience asthma as close to the way I do as possible.
I created an installation where viewers could enter the space and put on the headphones which play a sound piece inspired by my previous asthma attacks, whilst breathing through the tube on my lung piece.
The materials used include: plastic piping, asthma pumps, tissue paper, liquid latex and balloons. My aim with the small space was to achieve a heightened sense of anxiety in the viewers, as this is how I feel during an asthma attack. I also made very small holes in the balloons to ensure the participator feels out of breath when breathing through the tube.
There were disposable mouth pieces provided.
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This piece is now being donated to the asthma clinic in St Wolos hospital, Newport.
Articultural project 2018
This project was about therapeutic arts and nature, my piece was displayed outside in the university of south wales courtyard for about a year.Â
My aim for this piece was to engage viewers in a short task by creating a relaxing surrounding and inviting them to sit and participate.Â
I made the desk from scrap pieces of wood and the chair from a tree stump and leather. I coated the desk in cornflower petals and yellow paint, I then added various flowers and included elements to encourage recycling.
There was a box on the shelf of the desk including materials such as wooden sticks and rubber bands and instructions on how to make a flower decoration out of your rubbish.Â
I had to ensure this piece was coated in weatherproof varnish to survive the outdoors. Overall this took a long time but I gained so much knowledge from it.
Sensory memory blanket 2016
This piece was based on a close friend, as her grandmother has dementia I wanted to make something personal and useful for her.
As sensory things are brain stimulating and of course pictures are memory provoking, I decided to incorporate these into a small lap blanket.
I used scrap pieces of fabric and various objects such as buttons, zips and beads. My inspiration was from 'twiddle muffs' that the NHS use for dementia patients.
I also included personal reminders such as religious items and photos of family. Photos were transferred onto the fabric using Image Maker transfer solution and then I used a sewing machine to include some embroidery and fabric tags around the edges.
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