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Helen Snell

Devon
Artist working with analogue and digital multiples

The focus of my work is the relationship between hand making and digital making, craft and fine art, the unique and the mass produced. I am fascinated by the concept of the imperfect edition and in the production of the repeatable physical artefact. My work explores how extensively the digital file can be downloaded to be manufactured through an ever expanding range of outputs and processes.  By exploring the concept of the multiple and issues of authorship, I hope to reflect on the intrinsic value of the material and edition size as markers of a political agenda. 

My work is generated from line drawings and vector files to create digital designs for water jet cutting and laser cutting in a variety of resistant and non- resistant materials. These lines represent physical edges that define a positive surface against a cutaway.

 

l joined Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in June 2022 as artist in residence, working on a range of arts activities to explore and critically engage with the wellbeing of staff. The 24 month residency project, which has been funded by NHS Charities Together – Arts in Recovery Funds, will see me collaborate with a number of teams to create temporary and permanent artworks. https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/about-us/news-and-publications/news/2022/10/welcome-to-our-new-artist-in-residence-24343/

Work in Public Collections

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth Historic Dockyards,  Fleet Air Arm Museum, Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower, The National Centre for Craft and Design, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Hartlepool Museum, The University of Exeter, The Captain Cook Memorial Museum Whitby.

 

Do you want to see red?

Ill Fitting - inspired by observations of ENT surgery and conversations with NHS theatre staff

Above the Parapet - inspired by conversations with NHS nurses on strike days at the picket line

RED AMBER GREEN BRITAIN

Red Amber Green Britain, University of Exeter.

Red Amber Green Lenses

Do you want to see red? Science Gallery Detroit

Vaccination Nationalism, Science Gallery Detroit

Your passport is not your identity

Ethno-Constitutionals: A Collaboration with Monica-Shanta. Arts Institute, Plymouth University.

Appropriation Scissors

Instruments of Imperialism

Featured in

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Helen Snell: Artist of the Month December 2012

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Curated Selection: Ritual Objects

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