Artist Statement header text

Having not left the UK until I was 25, I went to stay in Japan. Drawn by the sense of sacredness embedded quietly in everyday life. There I found a celebration of imperfection and impermanence, a ‘wabi-sabi’aesthetic, with simplicity and stillness framing a window to another world. I am interested in the things that transcend our individual differences, by exaggerating the similarities. Filtered through philosophical thought and the design inherent in nature. Using textural and graphic imagery, the work utilises modern techniques to reinterpret long held belief systems. I have always been interested in mental health and encouraging well-being. My ongoing research has led me to study Mindfulness, and to investigate further with a sangha in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

Aiming to witness the unseen as a ‘bridge’ to the ‘Source’ and creating visuals that connect the viewer to a visceral sense of an idea. Pushing the boundaries of commercial techniques then regrounding them, by using the integrity of wood, back into the natural world. Sometimes creating three dimension objects and recording them in situ, or letting the process dictate the outcome, encourages the element of chance, of witnessing the moment.

The work finds a little space, a non-religious sanctuary, by creating a tangible absence to engage and intrigue an audience.

I feel my work is in it’s infancy, I am learning so much and haven’t yet caught up to reflect it fully in my artwork. There is a sense of urgency – look out for updates! The images printed onto birch ply can also be reproduced up to A1 size, and would make engaging surfaces or interior panels for places of contemplation, recovery and quiet inside spaces.

Mindfulness can change lives and change minds.

But we all need a trigger sometimes to make us stop and think – or just be still.

Alison’s striking and original images can really help.

Dr. Andrew McCulloch | Mental Health Expert