Intrigued by the parallels connecting the work of an artist and an alchemist, Sarah explores the art of transformation; documenting the journey of finding a curious object, experimenting with its properties and potential, and working towards a ‘eureka!’ moment.

Alchemy is the process of converting base metals into gold. Similarly, Sarah works with seemingly worthless, discarded materials, altering them to create treasured artefacts.

“A naturally curious collector, I mend and combine matter, assembling small sculptures, juxtaposing the unlikely to create a tangible record of the environment and people. I curate objects of intrigue in ‘families’ based on an instinctive response or relationship between materials. Fascinated by adhesives and their ability to secure and fasten, I focus on the binding capabilities of thread, using fibres to document and repair. I aim to preserve an object’s history, acknowledging the past while recognising new potential. Like an alchemist, I indulge in the process of measuring out and combining different quantities of substances, in the hope of striking gold.”

In this exhibition, Sarah explores a range of responses to found objects, celebrating the instinctive creative process that can (if lucky) yield exciting reactions and unexpected results for the alchemist.