Blind View

2015, Iron Oak Ink on paper

Blind View is a collection of ink drawings of blacked out sash windows. The windows were drawn from observation at Hestercombe house, a stately home and garden.

These works were fabricated during a residency when Hestercombe house was transitioning from a closed civic space to a public art gallery. The lines and textures in the works are from successful and failed experiments of making oak gall ink. The ink for these works was made from crushing oak galls found in the gardens of Hestercombe and mixed with rusted iron found also on site. Oak gall ink or sometimes called iron oak ink is an ancient lightfast ink which has been used in many old scriptures like the dead sea scrolls.

The dark patterns behind the white frames leads the viewer to imagine familiar landscapes even thought these patterns were produced by simply pouring the ink over a sheet of paper. The work references an anecdote that Lady Portman (the last person who lived in the period house) did not allow her servants to look out of the windows of the house to gaze at the kept gardens.

Blind View Series explores the transition of the building whilst retelling forgotten narratives.

‘Second Site’ Exhibition catalogue

Each drawing is 30cm x 42cm

Taunton, Somerset, UK

Photography - Paul Blakemore

Commisioner - Hestercombe Gallery and Gardens