This summer, Cardiff’s Blackwater Gallery, known for platforming both established and emerging artists from across the world, collaborates with the women-led empowerment initiative Her Mark for their latest art exhibition. Far A Day seeks to incorporate digital technology within contemporary artwork created by women working in that field.

Her Mark not only has female empowerment but also compassion and success as its focal point: the aim of the initiative is for women to unapologetically leave their ‘mark’ on the creative world. It is an organisation that encourages and facilitates the celebration of artists who identify as women – support that comes in the form of paid commissions and holistic opportunities. 

In an effort to increase inclusivity and representation, two sentiments out of which the Blackwater Gallery was borne, rising Somerset-born artist Miranda Collis and Swansea practitioner Fran Williams were commissioned by Cardiff-based Creative Producer, Emily Bull to create innovative digital artwork in accordance with the exhibition’s theme.

Fran’s artwork uses digital printing techniques on aluminium, creating a collection of landscapes that mimic the layers involved in oil painting, while also encapsulating the nature of digital photography. 

Living only five minutes from the seaside horizon line in Swansea, it is clear to see the impression the setting sun has had on Fran’s artistic work: her feelings on the profound nature of life and human existence, whereby despite our differing experiences, humans can unlock unifying emotions, are clear. The essence of our inter-connectedness and relatability to one another is depicted through the use of the eternal sun as a motif, with warm tones of the sunset captured in every image.

During the opening night’s artist talk, Fran explained that all of the pieces at Far A Day are an expansion of her first drafts – which are significantly smaller and were displayed by the entrance of the gallery. Through such a process of obsessively painting, copying and printing onto aluminium, Fran digitally shines a light through each layer and animates strands of work which otherwise wouldn’t be seen.

I particularly liked Follow Me, which could be interpreted in a plethora of ways; ultimately, her artwork is undoubtedly dark in theme, but through warm, sunny tones retain enough lightness to make for pleasant viewing.

Miranda, meanwhile, is a painter, illustrator and animator who, through this commission, created a series of paintings and moving imagery evoking raw emotions. Miranda’s artwork is inspired by and created in the Somerset countryside that she comes from. One could describe her work as an assemblage of childhood memories, or in her words, “a visual moving sketchbook”, whereby physical artwork is built upon digitally through animation, contributing to a sensory experience. Personally, my favourite piece was the three-frame depiction of two elderly people strumming their guitars in tandem, which was a blissful sketch to observe. Better still was the animation of the sketch, which brought the piece to life.

Though Fran and Miranda’s artwork took up a separate floor each to allow for individual appreciation, collectively, the pieces from both artists made for a rich and thought-provoking experience. Far A Day is an intimate, impactful and empowering exhibition and I highly recommend attending it if you have the chance.

Far A Day, Blackwater Gallery, Cardiff Bay, until Sun 7 Aug. Admission: FREE. Info: here

words INGA MARSDEN