The art scene in Peer Studios is set to get a vibrant touch from 7th-9th September with Isle of Wight artist Wendy Welsford’s latest exhibition, Irma: The Bad Weather Girl.
Showcasing a suspended sculpture made of deconstructed beach-combed rope and galvanised wire, each piece is meticulously adorned with black washi tape.
But what’s the story behind this ethereal piece?
Mapping Hurricane Irma
The artist reveals that her muse was a 3D monoprint weather map of Hurricane Irma, a commission she undertook in 2018.
This catastrophic storm wreaked havoc, particularly impacting areas in the West Indies and resonating deeply with the British Virgin Islands.
Its legacy remains as one of the most formidable tempests in modern history.
Understanding nature’s invisible power
Wendy explains about the intrinsic invisibility of hurricanes. They lack a tangible form; their presence is felt through howling winds, and their aftermath seen in ravaged landscapes.
Weather maps provide an abstract representation, using isobars to indicate force, yet it’s our human touch that personalises these natural phenomena with names.
Breathing life into ‘Irma’
Wendy’s desire was to endow “Irma” with a feminine silhouette. The intention was clear: the representation should evoke an image of a woman floating, her form alluding to the spiraling movements reminiscent of tempestuous winds.
To achieve this, beach-combed rope was unraveled and re-knitted into a dress-like structure.
Tape-covered wire was then used, stretching the shape to create an intricate, multi-textured sculpture.
Blending strength with fragility
The innovative combination of these materials was not just artistic experimentation, but a deeper message.
It exemplified the juxtaposition of strength and vulnerability often attributed to the female form.
But Wendy’s journey in crafting the piece was dynamic; she began with a vague idea, moulded by the limited resources at hand.
It was a fluid process: the sculpture’s true essence only revealing itself once the wire was incorporated.
The Symbolism of Suspension
A notable characteristic is its suspended nature, adding layers of symbolism. It signifies the air, the unpredictable dance choreographed by wind.
Incorporating beach rope underscores the nexus between human creations and nature, an implicit narrative on the transformative might of natural disasters.
Beauty in destruction
With this creation, Wendy intends to stir a duality of emotions in spectators. Aiming for an impact that’s simultaneously exquisite and eerie, she hopes to captivate viewers with the sculpture’s detailed texture and hanging silhouette, all the while emphasising nature’s double-edged sword: its majesty and its potential for devastation.
Through this labour of love, Wendy Welsford has certainly breathed life into her masterpiece, inviting all to experience her vision.
Where and when
The exhibition takes place at Peer Studios, 7th-10th September 2023.
Peer Studios is based at 29A Pier Street, Ventnor PO38 1SX. They will be open 10.30am to 4.30pm each day.
You can find out more about Wendy Welsford’s work by visiting her Instagram account, WestSouthWesterly.
You can also follow Peer Studios on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
