BETH WISE

Over the last few years my work has dealt with repetition, order and the traces humans leave behind. These themes have focused on the way that we interact with books and libraries. However, after graduating I began to notice that I was also accidentally mirroring my experience with my mental health. When I was 18 it would take me an hour to wash my hands. An hour covered in soap and water, scratching at my skin and under my nails until I felt comfortable enough to stop. I would repeat actions over and over until they felt ‘right’. Similarly, I have noticed that in my artistic practice I repeatedly pull and push objects across the glass of a photocopier, creating patterns and shapes over and over until I find one that is just ‘right’. Discovering that there is a connection between my mental health and my artistic practice has given me a new perspective on the way I make and create. These two pieces were made during lockdown as I tried to find the motivation and headspace to be creative again.