Negative Space

When I first began taking photographs of the interior of Castle Dillon the first thing that really appealed to me was the negative space, the contrast between light and dark. Each shot was almost like an illustration from a strange tale, like those of Edgar Allan Poe, even Alice in Wonderland. I sketched these a while back in black ink and I found my mind wandering as I did so, to stories such as those mentioned.

Because I am part of an exhibition which will be on the 1st of December I decided to work with this space, leaving the objects that I am using  to ‘grow’  aside for a while, possibly until after Christmas as growth takes time and this time of year is not particularly conducive to that.

I chose the smaller of the windows shown above as the beginnings for the piece I want to produce for the 1st December exhibition.

All photographs and illustrations are © Sarah Hutchinson Burke – Please do not use without permission.

Castle Dillon – 20 Years Ago

Much to my delight I stumbled upon old photos of Castle Dillon belonging to my grandmother. These are probably 20 years old at least and the last photo is of me aged four possibly…clambering over a rock by the lake which the house overlooks. I remember walks in the woods and around the lake very well, though it is now private, and separately owned.

I’m hoping to get into the museum in Armagh soon, to see if they have any old photos of the building. Though this project is not particularly historical it has its origins in that. I think it is important for me to build a narrative of pictures in my head while I work.

All photographs and illustrations are © Sarah Hutchinson Burke – Please do not use without permission.

Damp Designs 2009 – 2011

Though these photos are scattered through my previous posts I thought showing them together would be a good way of putting across, or explaining, how I hope my work will progress. The cleaner/pinker photos were taken in 2009, my first visit inside Castle Dillon, the darker lot are from different times this year. It shows the way the damp has caused this fungus to spread. Obviously this is devastating to the building but it is such  beautiful devastation.

All photographs and illustrations are © Sarah Hutchinson Burke – Please do not use without permission.