Transitions Catalogue Digital Edition

Distant Hope
Acrylic on Canvas
80cm x 30cm, 80cm x 60cm, 80cm x 60cm, 80cm x 60cm
2018
Distant Hope is a collection of works that were created by artist Sara-Louis Dobson
as a response to her experience of the changing nature of the working-class
communities in the areas she lived and worked in. This alongside her research in
social sciences brought about an interest in capturing the portraits of individuals
who were in some way having difficulties in integrating within their communities.
Sangeeta (crying baby) was the first portrait which Dobson was inspired to make
following an article she read in the National Geographic regarding poverty and
migration among African children. ‘Luther’ (sunglasses) was an African migrant
she met at a carnival in her home town who told her about his experiences in
the Notting Hill carnival. Both ‘Amina’ (landscape profile) and ‘Sophia’ (wearing
the veil) are Syrian refugees – who travelled from Syria to reach the UK sharing
the common vision of ‘hope’ in their journey to a better place. Using a fusion of
photography and acrylic painting Dobson created this set of images inspired by
the current political climate and cross culturalism, which looked to represent the
changing nature and variation of culture globally. Her portraiture is reflective
of this, focussing on migration, poverty and diversity whilst using experimental
techniques which test the reception of monochromatic effects against that of
colour in abstract.
Sara-Louise Dobson
Sara-Louise Dobson has been practicing art for over twenty years, inspired by her
personal experiences and close environment. Sara graduated with a 1st Class Degree
from Lancaster University, before pursuing her art and research development full
time. She now works from her studio on Wyresdale Park near Lancaster and runs
the project; Butterfly Portraits which provides portraits to bereaved families. Sara
was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts in response to her work with
the community and continues to exhibit nationally, a body of work which seeks
to address the changing and somewhat challenging nature of societal thought
processes and social construction
www.poetryandprose.co.uk