Sail Painting, Royal Shakespeare Theatre

The piece was one of the results of a year-long residency at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (2014-15) where, as well as researching and responding to the plays Othello and The Merchant of Venice, Susan explored the hidden activities that take place backstage, from costume making and rigging to the carefully choreographed activity that takes place during a live performance. Working with the RSC in response to such great material inspired a strong body of new work. 

Sail Painting consists of 30 or so used sails, alongside sails crafted from old sacks. The sails hang at various angles and levels in the multi-level atriums in front of theatres, thereby playing with the perspectives of the viewer's different vantage points. It was as if the viewer was walking inside a three-dimensional abstract painting.

The commission concluded with the exhibition SEA-MARKINGS, which included a version of Sail Away (paper money & map boats), smaller framed works, textiles and drawings as well as Sail Painting.

Exhibitions:

The Sea is the Limit, group exhibition curated by Vavrava Shavrova for 

York City Art Gallery (2018), Patrick Heide Contemporary Art (2017) and 

Virginia Commonwealth University, Doha, Qatar (2019).

SEA-MARKINGS Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon  (April-September 2015),

Sweet Plumbs at Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London (2015)