JANE WOOD

The Slandered Wife (Branwen) Fishing net and rope 25cm x 30 cm £NFS Wood's practice centres on the transformation of found objects gathered from the shores of Anglesey, a place where indelible memories converge. The contrast between these materials evokes a visual and emotional response that stimulates her creative process. Dirt and decay linger, the objects often incomplete and brittle, speak of fragility and loss, tensions and ties, the inescapable passage of time and fleeting nature of existence. Using only the objects gathered to preserve their place of origin, materials are manipulated and reworked through a playful, intuitive and improvised process of experimentation; using hand construction methods, unique and precarious structures emerge where new meanings and associations reveal themselves. This process acts as a reflection, reconnecting to people and place to reconsider personal histories. Each composition draws on the intersection of past and present, revealing new narratives that explore the intricate relationship between material and meaning; objects become characters, memories, and symbols in their own right, where hidden stories and untold histories emerge from the remnants of the past. In Celtic Mythology and Folklore, Branwen, Goddess of Love, thought to be buried in the Isle of Anglesey, endured much cruelty and loss but found strength and forgiveness, seeking peace to unite two lands and subsequently died of a broken heart faced with the death and destruction that surrounded her. The piece is symbolic of her story and determination to do what is right. @janelwood