Sarah J Harper

Illustrative Fibre Artist
Birmingham City University

Brief outline of your idea for the exhibition

To create a series of four individual pieces, when combined they represent my interpretation of the ballet and accompanying music in forms that express movement and raw emotions. Initially interacting with performers and requesting a few written words from each to stimulate my process, I will interpret the words expressed, translating them from emotions to physical form, similar to how dancers’ use their bodies, manipulating and distorting movements made on stage in their expression of text and scripts. I will document the shapes, words and emotions within my work reproducing an installation in fibreart incorporating 3D spheres of woven, upcycled and freehand embroidered sections using fibres and MDF. Lighting plays a large part in showing off the shadows cast from my work and I would like to be able to work with the venue in this aspect.

Proudest artistic achievement to date?
I am an artist who specialised in oils, before my journey commenced at BCU and fibres took over! A few years ago, I painted a portrait for a friends’ 60th birthday. A total surprise for her, and a surprise for me when I saw it presented on the main wall in her living room a few years later. Proud to have pride of place in a domestic setting.

What are you looking forward to most on the project?
The mentoring sessions offered, the masterclasses, the total immersion into a new creative field of dance are all aspects that I’m looking forward to. However, to be able to exhibit alongside other talented creatives working in partnership with the Wherefore ART thou project is a massive excitement. I am so happy to have been selected.