Kathryn Howard

My work is an investigation into marks and the emotional and spatial power they hold. From the raw rebellion of the hurried marks in graffiti, to the contemplative and skilled hand of the Chinese calligrapher, to the visceral expression of Cy Twombly, a mark proves its ability to communicate intent without speaking.

Through crafting of cerebral digital collages using photographic imagery and spills of paint, which are digitally printed unto fabric, my marks evoke the composure and planning of Chinese brush painting. By scanning in massive mural drawings made with large brushes and free movement, and through silk screening and hand painting free marks on to silk the work contains a free visceral energy which animates space or the body.

This collection of prints juxtaposes various marks and undulates between the controlled mark and the visceral, large scale and the intimate, the hand and the tool. By printing on various fabrics and in large scale I am able to contextualise my fabrics into architecture, the outside, and the body. Through their contextualisation each piece creates a unique conversation between themselves and their environment. My prints are largely design directed and teeter on the exciting edge where painting, sculpture, and drawing meet and merge with the tradition of printed textiles to create fantastic originals that speak through the energy of their unique marks.