The Otter's Path. Denis Brown, 2005.

Five sheets of glass, each engraved and etched on both sides, layered over a specially designed, one-off background, printed with archival inkjet inks on watercolor paper. 11" x 16" or 28 x 41 cm (14.5" x 19.5 " or 37 x 49 cm including frame)

Click in the image for a huge enlargement

The main text is layered up in the form of a 3-D spiral reminiscent of celtic forms, and also of a yin-yang symbol. What appears to be a 2 coil spiral was actually geometrically ruled up as a 16 coil form! This was necessary for each of the layers of glass writing to expand in turn on the top layer, which is in the two coil form. The dense mass of engraving is set against a paper background which features multiple printed repetitions of the glass lettering, which have been colorized and blurred to various degrees. This combination leads to a surreal effect of light and shadow. In some lights the engraved lines may barely be noticed, until one moves past the work causing the perspectives to change. In dramatic strong light, the combination of engraved line, shadow, and printed repetitions can be breathtaking.
The top right corner features layers of flourishes with animal heads and grass forms. Some are engraved on the glass, others are written onto acetate film and appear from beneath frosted glass.
Towards the left edge, another area of frosted glass bears a quotation in type reversed out of the frosted glass: will scatter the rayed fish to a halo along the veins of tributary streams.
The frosting of the glass was achieved by acid treatment, and these areas also feature multitudes of water-like droplets, made of clear resin attached to the glass layers.

Text, from "Liadain to Cuirithir" by Catherine Byron.

The otter must enter his holt
through water
water that's stilled and steady
well-deep to catch the print
of high-flying birds.

The otter with pale grey feet
must leave through water:
dry home, wet element
staking his life on margins.

He'll shrug
small seeds of liquid, of air
from his preened pelt
seaming the two with light

will scatter the rayed fish
to a halo along the veins
of tributary streams.

I have watched from darkness
wishing for otter, alert
for the whistle, the splash of limbs.

Liadain and Cuirithir were lovers in an ancient Irish legend. Literally, Liadain means "grey lady", and Cuirithir means, "otter's son". The full poem is published in Byron's The Fat Hen Field Hospital, Loxwood & Stoneleigh, 1993.

©2007 Denis Brown  |  www.quillskill.com