Artists Access to Art Colleges: Home

Leeds College of Art & Design   2006/2007

Louisa Parker

Petroleum : Part of a body of work around themes of migration, language and belonging, Petroleum has enabled me to revisit sculptural work and has extended my drawing practice into abstract experimentation. A starting point for this series was a collection of layered map drawings titled 'Diaspora'.

The body of work, titled Petroleum, consists of a series of three globes made from layers of paraffin wax and pigment, and a series of encaustic drawings and prints.

During the residency I have experimented with map contours, textures and coastlines referencing maps, globes and satellite images. Some processes I used were new and some familiar. I worked with layered glass, using engraving, sandblasting, and firing processes, and also making plaster molds, this work culminated in the layered wax globes, and the wax resist drawings on display. This residency has helped me to make decisions about my studio practice and will contribute to my work when I begin an M.A. at the University of Leeds next year.

Having worked mainly in video and installation for some time now I feel my practice has benefited from returning to the disciplines of drawing and sculpture. The space, time, access to equipment and the technical support of the AA2A scheme have been invaluable to me.