In Huraki Murakami’s novel Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End Of The World, the concept of shadow is used to represent an alter ego of the main character. This shadow is a separate, independent version of the character that has different desires, fears and motivations. Murakami uses this metaphor to explore themes of identity, self-discovery, and the dual nature of human existence.

I am particularly intrigued with this idea of the independent shadow. Here, in Imprints of Space, 1 and 2, each piece is made up of shadow shapes harvested as I explored the exterior spaces of The Old Fire Station in Oxford. Their surfaces are a record of momentary glimpses, traces and fragments of colours, materials and textures noted, working together to create an atmosphere of this space.

Lino print, collage and drawn elements are combined on laser cut card shadow shapes. Slotted together they stand in different arrangements; individual shapes, but now fused into a new, independent form. The use of a mirrored base allows other spaces to appear and alter as the viewer moves around the sculptures, inviting a glimpse of possibilities beyond the original form, hinting at a separate shadow represented through the reflections.