‘Colours of Damage’, is influenced by the natural world found close to my doorstep in Leicester. Colour plays a large emphasis in my practice as a way to visually convey a cyclical sense of belonging, being immersed in a particular landscape or surrounded by plants I feel connected to. Made in response to that concept, this series of colour studies records colour changes of leaves, trees and plants on my regular walking route from my home around my local green space, observed over a period of time – from flourishing vivid colours in the summer to beautiful decaying tones in the winter.
The artwork is displayed in a handmade paper box with the sides opening down in a simple origami style to reflect the feeling of expansion when stepping out of my home and into my immediate natural world. The small square papers (7 x 7cm), represent the paving slabs along my walking route. The colours are ordered as observations on my walking route, where the viewer engages in the immersive experience of removing each colour card from the box, much like footsteps – sharing in my walk and noticing the seasonal and human changes of the surrounding natural world. When completely laid out, the artwork measures 50 x 40cm.
Off-cuts of Fabriano printmaking paper were used, and various types of pastels for the layered colours. I created this piece as a study with the hope to revisit it making earth pigments sourced directly from the land and environment around me, with the aim of further embedding belonging between land and human connection.
Mandeep Dhadialla | ARTIST printmaker 