Lewes launch for book delving into the “heart, soul and mind” of Sussex-based artist Chris Drury
Image credit: Chris Drury
Granite stones that seem to swirl like liquid; a chalk fingerprint in the grass as if a giant has lent down to leave their permanent mark on the landscape; and mounds and troughs of grass that follow the lines of flow of the glaciers which once covered a valley.
The works of artist Chris Drury, in his own words, “seek to make connections between nature and culture; inner and outer; and microcosm and macrocosm. The Grain Store caught up with the Sussex artist ahead of the launch of his new book, HEART SOUL MIND.
What is your creative process? What comes first? Is it the kernel of an idea, or is it seeing a place and then projecting an artwork onto that place?
I start by being in a place. From the instincts that I feel when being there, I then work towards something. There are always a lot of drawings and site photographs. I also take into account the materials that are available. I use what is growing there, and if there's nothing growing, then I can use earth, or stone or rock, or whatever's there, really. In Sussex, I might use chalk, as I have done for the Fingermaze in Hove Park. By doing this, you are talking about the place.
You have described how your works reveal the connections between nature and culture. How do you uncover these?
The initial conversations about culture are often with the person who has commissioned the works. They will talk to me about the place and the people. I will make something that can be made by a few people working together. Originally, it was just me making but as I have got older, other people work alongside me.
Image credit: Chris Drury
How has your life in Sussex informed your work?
I have been in Sussex for a long time, and The South Downs are very special to me. The chalk itself is interesting because you can use chalk to draw with. Excavated it can become a white line as in the Litlington White Horse and Long Man of Wilmington. These land drawings have been made for millennia.
Can you tell us more about your new book?
I have been working with a Japanese artist called Myujin Ok. I met him many years ago and asked him to send me something. He sent me five kanji, which are Japanese symbols for specific words. These words were earth, fire, air and water, but also the symbol for Kokoro, which means heart, soul and mind. He makes the symbols in black ink working fast with broad brush strokes. I then work with his kanji, and take them further. I draw into them so it becomes a collaboration.
Image credit: Chris Drury
These works HEART SOUL MIND have now been published in a book along with 45 years of work. The book and some works will be launched at Continuum Studio in Lewes on 13th April.
