Sue Hotchkis

Sue's work is rooted in observation, drawn to the quiet, relentless poetry of deterioration and decline found in everyday materials and structures. She is deeply inspired by natural processes-erosion, geological formations, and material transformations. Influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi, she seeks out imperfection in the insignificant and the overlooked, recording surfaces that are ephemeral and in a constant state of flux.

Moving beyond the narrative of loss, she frames decay not as finality, but as a transitory state where the breakdown of one form inevitably gives rise to the structure of another.

By isolating these textures and patterns, her artwork serves as a visual record of time. I reinterpret decaying elements into richly textured abstract compositions or ‘fragments’.  These organic forms utilise complex relief to expose the intricate patterns that thrive in the wake of deterioration.

Working intuitively, she allows the work to evolve organically. She builds up layers using screen printing and embroidery, transforming them into three-dimensional abstract forms that hover between object and image.

This process creates a unique tactile landscape, challenging traditional understandings of the division between the visible and the unseen.

This approach highlights the paradox that deconstruction often leaves behind a richer, more brilliant surface than the original structure ever had. Viewers are invited to slow down, observe the subtle shifts in colour and texture, and find profound meaning in the fleeting, beautifully imperfect nature of the world around us.