alison lochhead
Mediums Used
Alison Lochhead studied art and ceramics at Loughborough College of Art and Design and Wolverhampton Polytechnic from 1971 – 1975. During this period she became very interested in weaving and she received a scholarship to study tapestry weaving in Poland for a year. On her return to Britain she set up as a tapestry weaver. Alison has always loved travelling and in 1981 she got a job for three years in the Sultanate of Oman working alongside the Bedouins. Alison was inspired by the incredible rock formations in Oman and back in Britain started to work with paper pulp creating large wall pieces and continued to work with paper until about 1997. Alison then returned to working in clay, and in the last 4 years has incorporated cast iron within her sculptures; increasing the tensions of materials with the firing of the ceramic and the pouring of molten iron within the fired work.
After working in Oman, Alison became very interested in participative development and the gender politics that surround the development process, as well as daily life. She continues to work internationally in the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Asia. The experiences from this work are reflected in her artwork.
Alison Lochhead`s present work has evolved from a previous series of sculptures called Watchers, figures reflecting history and the memory of actions and experiences of people over time. The earth retains the marks made by humans and their presence, which they leave behind. Humans appear to make very slow social and political progress. The mistakes and behaviours of the past are constantly repeated, little collective reflection seems to take place. The marks of action and memory made long ago are still there watching over us and reminding us of their presence. These are the “watchers”, who are figures reflecting history. They are bodies returned to the earth, as in death. But their presence does not die, nor their witness.
The backbone of the body, now as the hulls of the Death Boats, represents both strength and vulnerability. The ribs in both contain the inner parts of a body. Death Boats are part of many cultures, taking the dead into the other world. They hold memories and when ship wrecks and long dead vessels are uncovered they retain the spirits of those which sailed in them. The marks made in the land long ago are still there watching over us and remind us of their presence and their shadows. Death Boats, became Wrecks and the current body of sculpture is working on the memories within and around the mines in the Cambrian Mountains, Wales. The layers of memories within the strata, the emergence of metals from the rocks once put in the kiln; the transformation of mine rocks, clay, cast iron all together.
Alison Lochhead`s work has journeyed through various materials, fibres, paper and now back to clay and recently cast iron; using materials and techniques which the work demands.
Sculptures by alison lochhead
Credentials
Qualifications
Loughborough College of Art. 1971-1972
Wolverhampton Polytechnic. 3D Ceramics, BA (Hons). 1972-1975
British Council Scholarship to Poland. Studying with Jolanta Owidzka; fibre art. 1975-1976
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing, Bristol Polytechnic. 1987-1988
MSc Econ in International Politics. Aberystwyth University. 1996-1997,Loughborough College of Art. 1971-1972
Wolverhampton Polytechnic. 3D Ceramics, BA (Hons). 1972-1975
British Council Scholarship to Poland. Studying with Jolanta Owidzka; fibre art. 1975-1976
Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing, Bristol Polytechnic. 1987-1988
MSc Econ in International Politics. Aberystwyth University. 1996-1997Exhibitions
yes
Publications
‘Revealment – Datguddiad’,‘Revealment – Datguddiad’
Worked as an artist since 1975, first in fibre art, then paper pulp and now sculpting in clay and cast iron. Recently exploring collograph printing.
Lots!
Planet - The Welsh Internationalist. Issue 194
