Details

First Name

Thomas
Last Name

Hawson
Username

thomashawson
Website

http://www.thomashawson.com
Region

Scottish Borders
Disciplines

Applied Arts and Craft, Drawing, Installation, Photography, Sculpture
Themes

Abstract, Environment, Geometric, Identity, Landscape, Narratives

Statement

Statement

 

I make things to make sense of the world. Using different basic making traditions, I explore our relationship with nature. By physically sourcing my own materials from the landscape and reinventing forgotten making traditions, I want to delve deep into the cultural contexts of places and people, through making. From this mostly physical and visual research I like to find ways to use these materials and basic making practices to make symbolic artifacts that have meaning for the present day. I often make these artifacts as props to create happenings or performances. I then document these happenings and sometimes the making of the artifacts themselves with photography and drawing.  I use this documentary drawing and photography to make montage and dioramas and all together as a reflective tool. My ambition is to mediate between humanity and nature and demonstrate an optimistic and fruitful future for both.

 

Biography

Biography

 

From his self-converted mill farm studios in the rural Scottish Borders, Thomas has been developing his art practice, since 1997. He works in wood, bronze, ceramics, drawing and film photography. Thomas has a fascination for basic preindustrial technology and ways of making things from materials hewn directly from nature. By working until he feels a fluid mastery of his medium, he lays the foundations for his art. Completing his PhD in 2006 for his Icelandic project, collaborating with artists and makers across the Nordic region, has grounded his art practice in making traditions. Commissions have come from Marchmont House, the Icelandic Parliament, the Foreign& Commonwealth Office and the Episcopalian Cathedral Glasgow. His work has been exhibited across the Nordic region and nationally and received awards at the Royal Scottish Academy. Doctor Hawson has been a visiting lecturer at Glasgow School of Art, Brunel University and Heriot-Watt University.