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University of Cumbria   2004/2005

Irene Sanderson

The twelve beasts of the Chinese almanac are the starting point. A complete cycle portraying these creatures is the goal. This year, from 9 February until 29 January 2006, is the Year of the Cockerel. Country Cockerel is an exercise in effects of hatching and exploitation of 'rough bite'.

Chinese characters are part of the final design. Usually they are written onto an absorbent surface that carries the ink into the fibres of the material, but here I have held them in slight relief writing onto the zinc/steel plate with a glue filled with Carborundum powder. This process also reveals the sequence of the composite strokes.