Saranna Watkins
Saranna Watkins is based in West Yorkshire whilst studying Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University. She is a multidisciplinary artist who uses a variety of media including painting, collage, textiles, film and music. Watkins’ work currently explores the physical, emotional and political landscapes, drawing on her previous experience working within the mental health arena.
Small Notes from a Hospital Bed
“Whilst in hospital for nine months as a teenager, most of which were confined to bed, I struck up a friendship with two other people of a similar age. The only way in which we could communicate with each other was through handwritten notes. These notes often described funny accounts of what was going on in the ward, accompanied by hand drawn cartoons and pastiches of some of the personalities we observed. The are painful but also bring a smile to my face with their vivid and pointed observations.”
Image Description:
‘Small Notes from a Hospital Bed’ consists of two photographs. The first photograph is a close-up still life which shows ten handwritten notes, each folded into quarters and placed on top of each other in an untidy pile. The printed lines of the paper are evident, with some blue penned lines barely visible, suggesting secret conversations, memories and experiences waiting to be divulged. In the middle of the image is a pile of notes on top of the rippled cotton bedsheet of an unmade bed. Natural light falls from the top left corner, casting strong shadows across the bedsheet and notes.
The second photo is an ultra close-up image of a handwritten reflection. It is written over five lines in blue biro on white lined paper and reads: “The restriction of movement. Handwritten notes the only communication between the constraints of our hospital beds.”
Audio Description:
External Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saranna_art/