Questions To Ask A Sheep On A Rock In A Valley Artwork - Limited Edition of 25

Debra Danu Matthews is a London born artist now based in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom whose works have been widely exhibited. In my mind’s eye, I picture an old office building with a long, dimly lit corridor lined with doors, each adorned with brass plaques. One plaque reads ‘Collections & Lists’. Behind this door lies a room that serves as a repository of memory, filled with notebooks, photographs, objects, sketchbooks, music, films, and, of course, lists. These items form a personal archive, capturing fragments of lived experience, creative discovery, and emotional reflection. Within this space, I undertake what I call a "life audit." My artwork examines the tension between the past and present, the fleeting nature of memory, and the subtle yet powerful links that persist across time, much like markers etched into sand slowly eroding. Memories are not static; they shift, fade, and transform. I capture this fluidity of creating these materials whether in the form of prints, photographs, or objects and deconstructing them. Through processes of degradation, cutting, and altering, I fragment these images and objects, breaking them down into new forms. At times, these pieces are intentionally obscured or reduced; at others, the destruction enhances the memory, revealing deeper meanings. My process of reassembling these fragmented pieces serves as a metaphor for how we reconstruct our own memories - reshaped by time, distortion, and emotion. The resulting body of work reflects on how memory evolves, how the act of remembering is both fragile and transformative, and how creative exploration allows us to hold onto, reshape, and even reimagine the past. I invite viewers to join me on a journey of rediscovery, where memories are enhanced, misrepresented, and made. Debra Danu Matthews. Artist Statement 2024