style="margin: 1em 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify; ">Bernard Appassamy is a writer, artist, and works as a bilingual medical coordinator at various hospitals in the Sydney Metropolitan district. This fact is evident by the use of materials in his latest project, 'Sacred Hands', in which he has sourced waxed paper inserts of sterile gloves used by the medical staff of the hospital. 'Sacred Hands' is a project begun in May 2008 and submitted for consideration in the prestigious Blake Prize where where a photo of the final artwork will be available for viewing on the Blake Prize web site from 7 October to 7 November 09.
About his work, Bernard says ;
"At work, I often watch doctors and nurses wash their hands before donning sterile attire. Besides the ballet-like choreography, I see a parallel with cleansing rituals attached to many religious observances, yet a secular 'sacredness' to the process".
In Benard's artist statement he also goes on to say;
"Sterile medical gloves come within a paper insert. Each paper is labelled with the glove size and item number, referring to the medical staff and patient. My stitching from recycled papers, combines stories of birth, life and death, in their infinity. The sterile setting is secular, but the space is sacred."
I have an obvious affinity with Bernard's artwork and process and had the pleasure of seeing the work in it's initial stages. The meditative quality of stitching together of paper reminded me of my own relationship with materials and the tenacious grip the creative process can have on you! Congratulations Bernard on going
