Testing Ground

A two month residency with

Yorkshire Art Space

Testing Ground is a micro-residency at Exchange Place Studios, intended to provide an intensive period of creative experimentation for an artist based in Sheffield. As the first Testing Ground artist-in-residence in September and October 2023, I used the gallery as a working studio space to explore light, shadow, paper and storytelling. Over the two month I created a series of hanging papercut artworks and kinetic paper sculptures, both inspired by celestial bodies.

I was interested in using the large gallery space and windows to create work that played with ephemeral light, space and interaction, to engage in the planting scheme ‘Grey to Green’ just outside the venue, to use the windows as an opportunity to share practice with members of the public.

The work developed during the residency explored my ongoing research into labour, nature, and access to land, and I hosted multiple opendays, workshops and crits for the wider public. The residency was also spent creating work for two exhibitions - one at Chatsworth House (which can be viewed here) and another celebrating Northumberland National Park’s 10th Dark Skies Park anniversary.

Photography by Tyler Mellins and Bethan Maddocks