Charchoal Chronicles
A popular imported good from Novgorod, dried cod, explored through Charchoal sketches.
The subject dried cod derived from exploring the historical significance of the River Thames, a landscape shaped by centuries of trade and transformation. This lead me to the legacy of the hanseatic league, a medieval confederation that connected Britain, Norway, and Russia with Bruges through vital trade routes, using the town of Damme (Belgium) as their gateway.
Inspired by the goods once exchanged, (timber, dried cod, wool, and textiles) I began creating a series of charcoal drawings, focusing particularly on fish as a symbol of this network of exchange. Each drawing serves both as a documentation of beauty and a tactile exploration of the charcoal medium itself. As the project evolved, the work The Catch was made in Damme, a city that once played a pivotal role in Europe’s trade history.
