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Poets and artists

Ken Hurd

My work often draws from materials found in encyclopaedias and books of knowledge that I used to pore over as a boy, which is ironic because my work is more about a lack of understanding. I’m fascinated with the idea of lost or hidden knowledge and try to create a sense of wonder about the world.

Images - Light House Exhibition April 2006

The snowfall in February seemed to suggest a way of working. I decided to allow nature, or the elements, to 'paint' the pictures. It’s a risky way to work! The snow and rain moved the delicate water-based pigments around the canvases into unpredictable shapes - impossible to control. Overprinting fragments of Jane Seabourne's beautiful and sensitive poems has evoked a narrative for this work, but I also like the idea of the viewer imagining their own exotic landscapes or inventing their own rich stories – every one different.

'Earth and Fire. When it's time to go'
Box framed canvas 18 x 30 inches. Fabric dye on canvas with printed lettering.

'Elements. Another Sea'
Fabric dye and stenciled lettering on canvas. 30 x 30 inches.

'Elements. Nothing is ever lost'
Fabric dye and stenciled lettering on canvas. 30 x 30 inches.