Helen Hall

Pen Pals

The images shows Helen dragging her hair over the surface of the paper that has been coated in to photosensitive cyanotype chemicals. Her hair if wet and the trails of the water and shapes of the hair leave patterns in the blue chemicals that will expose with the sun.

Helen was one of three UK based artists to be included in DaDaFest’s international project ‘Pen Pals’; partnering with artists from Indonesia and Nigeria. This project occurred in ‘lockdown’, during the Coronavirus pandemic. Each group spent months conversing via watsapp and zoom, learning about each other’s artistic practice and general life, and responding artistically throughout the project.  

Helen’s artistic response explored making large scale cyanotypes with her body, observing as her movements created beautiful blue landscapes on the paper.  

The produced work was exhibited in the yearly group exhibition at Jogja Disability Arts, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 2022. To read more about the project and meet the other artists read here  https://www.dadafest.co.uk/event/pen-pals-autumn

The image shows a close up of Helen’s foot as she sweeps it in gentle movements over the surface of the paper, that has been coated in photosensitive cyanotype chemicals. Her foot leaves patterns in the blue chemicals that will expose with the sun.
The image shows the palms of Helen’s hands covered in bright orange turmeric powder.. turmeric powder can be added to the chemicals on the paper to archive unusual colours and marks during the exposure.