ANNA ALCOCK by Anna Alcock

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Anna Alcock fine art printmaker

Introduction by Carole Baekey. Deeply personal, Anna’s more powerful art plumbs the depths of the soul, manipulative and seemingly inextricable limits established by an insecure and rapidly evolving society, the sense many of us have of being controlled by outside forces. With her art deeply personal, she nonetheless captures collective fears even as she produces whimsical lighter works for both children and adults. Much of her work is about the interpretation of spaces, light and darkness in their most profound senses. Her work underscores contradictions in the violence and dangers of our world, including mystery and sorcery, with the concomitant universal search for safety, for example turning a wolf or argument into threats then mediated by overtures of compassion and a retreat to safety. In this light, she is engaged in exploring the human form, including the complexities and ambiguities of the human condition. Her imaginative work also assesses relationships, couples, groups of people, and, not least, life’s vagaries women confront in the complexities of growth and the changing seasons of life. Always scrutinizing the human condition, her imaginative work in several media varies in its joy, empathy, sadness, anger and then a redemptive restoration of compassion and empathy balancing inescapable pathos. Her development is an ongoing process, fuelled by her passion, with recent works reflecting emerging styles and a deepening appreciation for life’s joys and sorrows. There is an interior logic in the development of Anna’s work over more than two decades, with her art unique in her varied artistic media, including fine art print, drawing and more rarely paintings. Her eclectic styles encompass creative, sometimes ingenious and inspired art on paper, canvas, fabric, 3D sculptural pieces, and chine colle.

RISING FROM THE ASHES. 2015 Collograph: Proof Image Size: 57x78cm

After completing Uthongathi School, Anna earn her four year fine arts degree in 1998 from University of KwaZulu-Natal (previously University of Natal), where she majored in printmaking and art history with a special dispensation for the study of classics. In 2004 she was awarded her masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in printmaking. In 2007 she established her art studio Inky Cuttlefish. With expressionist art a major thread in Annaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive style, she has been shaped and guided by the works of Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Der Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) period 1911-1914, German Expressionists pre-WWII through 1920, notably including Emil Nolde, a key figure in the German expressionist movement Die Brucke, the Fauvism movement, and the drawings, printmaking and painting of the peerless Rembrandt van Rijn. Anna acknowledges her appreciation of those who recognized and encouraged her embryonic passion for art and emerging and progressive maturation, including teachers, family, friends, and others who reinforced her love of art, including her art, and the importance of art as an alternative means of expression in our uncertain, sometimes hackneyed world.

Carole A Baekey, Esquire Durban, South Africa June 2015

BA Fine Art (Hons), MA Printmaking anna@annaalcock.com Date of Birth: 6 Oct 1976 Born: South Africa

These "primordial images" or "archetypes," as I have called them, belong to the basic stock of the unconscious psyche and cannot be explained as personal acquisitions. Together they make up that psychic stratum which has been called the collective unconscious. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Carl Jung:The Structure of the Unconscious

Art is a universal language that doesn’t need translation. Printmaking is a means to an end in my work...the moment of truth and magical elements that are beyond our control are what excite me in my quest to make great art. Many of my pieces are one offs and I often use mediums that bring an element of chance and originality to pieces. This sometimes means that works are not editioned and are signed as artists proofs, left as open editions , signed as unique or are printed as variable editions with marked variations between individual pieces. I like to believe that this makes each print more collectable— unlike many editioned prints where artists have their work printed by others, each one of my prints is printed by me in my studio in London. What is a print? I would define a print as anything that has a matrix (a surface from which the print is made—this could be your hand to make a hand print) involves ink or pigment and transferring an image onto another surface. Please note that controversially when I refer to ‘a print’ in the traditional sense, I do not mean computer print outs, or mass produced printing methods. Sometimes I print by hand and sometimes I use my traditional etching press or a screenprinting table...but rest assured each technique requires lots of muscle power, attention to detail, patience and that elusive magical moment of chance to make a truly great piece of artwork. The essence of the printing I do is in the choices and time that goes into each print, the mastery in each nuance of the technique. I use a combination or traditional printmaking techniques primarily etching with acid, dry point, aquatint, linocut, woodcut, wood engraving, screen-printing and collograph. My work is about exploring the magic of and retelling stories through my personal mythology in a world that seems to have buried and is in conflict with the archetypal and awe-inspiring truth of our old stories, folktales, myths and legends. Anna Alcock March 2016

AFRICAN DREAMING SERIES: 2011-ongoing Mixed Media. Unique pieces using relief printing, watercolour, chine colle Image Size: 50x50cm

ROOTS & CROWN: 2009 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 30x30cm

Four Prints: Titles Top left clockwise ROOTS & CROWN (2009), AFRICAN MOON RISING (2004), BOOK OF THE DEAD (2010), AMANDLA SOUTH AFRICA (2010) Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 30x30cm

EMBRACE: 2007 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 20x18cm

THE DANCE: 2010 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 30x28cm

BOOK OF THE DEAD: 2011 Linocut with hand-colouring: Edition 20 Image Size: 40x40cm

AMANDLA SOUTH AFRICA: 2011 Linocut with hand-colouring: Edition 20 Image Size: 40x40cm

DREAM TRAVELLERS IN LONDON: 2005 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 10 Image Size: 25x30cm

THE GIFT. 2007 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

TOGETHER. 2007 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

ROOTS & CROWN: 2009 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 30x30cm

BREATH: 2016 Linocut. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 15x25cm

ZULU FOLKTALE: 2007 Linocut with hand-colouring. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

AFRICAN DAWN: 2008 Multiple Plate linocut. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

THE MOON DANCE: 2008 Multiple Plate linocut. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

WOOD STREET MARKET, WALTHAMSTOW: 2012 Linocut. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 30x30cm

WAR IN HEAVEN: 2012 Linocut. Edition variable of 20 Image Size: 30x23cm

RISE AGAIN: 2016 Linocut: Edition 20 Image Size: 30cmx52cm

BOYS OWN EMPIRE: 2016 Linocut: Edition 20 Image Size: 43x30cm

GUARDIAN ANGEL: 2005

Linocut. State 1. Edition 5

Linocut. State 1. Edition 10

Image Size: 30x23cm

CAT IN CANARY WHARF Woodcut. Edition 20 Image Size: 25x25cm

GREENWICH NAVAL COLLEGE Woodcut. Edition 20 Image Size: 25x25cm

PANDORAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BOX: 2006 Linocut: East London Printmakers Box Set (held in Victoria&Albert Museum, London) Image Size: 20x20cm

AFRICAN RISING MOON: 2006 Linocut: Edition 5 Image Size: 40x40cm

BEASTIE BIRDS IN LONDON: 2005 Linocut: Edition 10 Image Size: 30x30cm

RAW: The Art of War Linocut: Edition 10 Image Size: 30x30cm

GUARDIAN ANGEL: 2005 Linocut: Edition 10 Image Size: 30x25cm

SHADES OF GREEN: 2010 Screenprint : Edition 120 Image Size: 35x30cm

TREES: 2015 Wood engraving. Open Edition Image Size: 12x5cm

Woman: 2004 Linocut. Open Edition Image Size: 15x7cm

Icon. 2004 Linocut. Open Edition Image Size: 80cmx40cm

ZULU BEADWORK: 2014-ongoing Mixed Media. Unique pieces using relief printing, watercolour, chine colle Image Size: 20x20cm

ZEBRA: 2015-ongoing Mixed Media. Unique pieces using relief printing, watercolour, chine colle Image Size: 20x20cm

SLEEPING BEAUTY: 2014 Wood Engraving. Edition 25 Image Size: 6x4cm

REMEMBER: 2014 Wood Engraving. Unique pieces using relief printing, watercolour, chine colle Image Size: 20x20cm

THE CANNIBAL: 2013 Wood Engraving and Chine Colle: Unique Image Size: 7.5x10cm

CUSTODY: 2013 Wood Engraving and Chine Colle: Unique Image Size: 7.5x10cm

FAIRYTALE: 2014 Wood Engraving: State 1 Edition 20 Image Size: 7.5x7.5cm

FAIRYTALE: 2014 Wood Engraving: State 2 Edition 20 Image Size: 10x10cm

FAIRYTALE: 2014 Wood Engraving: State 1 Proof Image Size: 10x10cm

ROAR TIGER: 2013 Linocut: Edition 20 Image Size: 25x12cm

GUARDIAN ANGEL: 2013 Relief print in Gold: Edition 5 Image Size: 50x50cm

ISABELLA’S GIFT: 2013 Etching in Gold: Edition 5 Image Size: 50x50cm

YUMMY: 2013 Linocut. Edition 10 Image Size: 30x20cm

DEDICATED TO THE GUARDIANS: 2013 Linocut. Edition 10 Image Size: 160x60cm

RISING FROM THE ASHES. 2015 Collograph: Proof Image Size: 57x78cm

RISING FROM THE ASHES. 2015 (detail) Collograph: Proof Image Size: 57x78cm

ISABELLA’S GIFT: 2013 Etching: Each Unique Image Size: 50x50cm

Sleeping Beauty: 2014 Etching: Image Size: 40x40cm

The Fall of Icarus: 2012 Etching : Edition 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

London Tale: 2006 Etching: Edition of 10 Image Size: 10x10cm

London Tale: 2007 Etching: Proof Image Size: 10x10cm

RED DRAGON: 2007 Etching: Edition 20 Image Size: 5X5cm

SLEEPING BEAUTY: 2013 Etching: Edition of 20 Image Size: 10x10cm

SIRENS: 2014 Etching: Proof Image Size: 30X20cm

GET THEE AWAY: 2007 Etching: Edition 10 Image Size: 5x5cm

DRAKENFRAU: 2010 Etching and Drypoint: Edition 40 Image Size: 30X10cm

STARS ON HIS ROBES: 2007 Etching: Edition 10 Image Size: 5x5cm

AFRICAN DANCE: 2009 Etching: Edition 20 Image Size: 15x15cm

NUMELE: 2013 Etching printed on Boys Own Empire pages: Variable Edition 10 Image Size: 10x15cm

LOVE IS ENOUGH: 2012 Etching: Edition 20 Image Size: 20x20cm

THE ABDUCTION: 2012 Etching: Edition 20 Image Size: 20x30cm

BEFORE THE ABDUCTION Etching. Edition 20 Image Size: 30x30cm

THE LABYRINTH Etching. Edition 20 Image Size: 30x30cm

THE LONDON TALE Etching Monoprint. Unique Image Size: 50x50cm

WHEN CATS FLY: 2012 Etching: Edition 20 Image Size: 12x18cm

WHEN DOGS FLY: 2012 Etching: Edition 20 Image Size: 12x18cm

SLEEPING BEAUTY: 2013 Screenprint: Edition 10 Image Size: 80x50cm

DEDICATED TO THE GUARDIANS: 2009 Screenprint: Monoprint underprinting on canvas. Unique Image Size: 88x45cm

TIGER BRIGHT: 2009 Multiple Plate Linocut: Edition 40 Image Size: 33x25cm

GUARDIAN ANGEL: 2006 Screenprint: Monoprint Unque Image Size: 40x50cm

BLACKHORSE LANE: 2015 Screenprint: Monoprint Unique Paper Size: 57x78cm

DREAM TRAVELLER: 2015 Screenprint: Edition 8 Paper Size: 57x78cm

WOMAN REACHING: 2005 Monoprint Unque Image Size: 40x40cm

BLACKHORSE LANE: 2015 Screenprint: Monoprint Unique Paper Size: 57x78cm

BEASTIE BIRDS: 2013 Screenprint: Monoprint Unique Paper Size: 48x32cm

WOLF: 2011 Screenprint and fabric collage: Monoprint Unique Paper Size: 180x120cm

CHILDS IMAGINATION: 2011

CHILDS IMAGINATION 2: 2011

Screenprint and fabric collage: Monoprint Unique

Paper Size: 180x120cm

THE MOON WEEPS: 2008 Screenprint: Monoprint Unique Paper Size: 120x70cm

ELEPHANT IN PYJAMAS: 2010 Screenprint: Edition 50 Paper Size: 30x25cm