In my current project, ‘The Witchcraft Series’, I am exploring the history of witch persecutions in Europe, and contemporary attitudes to the idea of ‘witchcraft.’
I see it as a fruitful metaphor, both for contemporary political problems and historic attitudes to women, power, science, medicine and the unknown. Some of my works adapt imagery and text from original historic documents and pamphlets. I think it is no coincidence that witch-persecution flared up across Europe soon after the invention of the printing press.
My work often incorporates text, as a framing device or a way of commenting on the content. My most recent large tapestry, ‘The Great European Witch-Hunt: The word ‘witch’ in 10 languages’ frames images about witch-beliefs with the word in the languages of the European regions where persecution was strongest.
I hope eventually to do a large touring one-woman show of ‘The Witchcraft Series’.