Totem Sculpture

1986, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire 'Thomas's current artistic concerns lie within the field of Islamic art with special prominence given to an exploration of the nature of the camel, something that has become a central tenet of her practice. This thread can be seen to have begun when Thomas received a travel grant enabling her to travel to Turkey where she undertook a residency based in a cave dwelling in Cappadocia, Central Anatolia. This experience combined with further travels in Morocco and academic research in anthropology left Thomas with a fascination with both Islamic architecture and the wider nomadic culture. This has led to the more recent introduction of trigonometry, notably in the way surfaces are constructed within her work; equally they could also reference triangulation points, and in turn how and why space is mapped from 3D into 2D. Dromedary (2013) for instance is made from triangular pieces of mild steel and was inspired by the ancient Inka chant "Inti qori paran, killa qolqe paran" (The Sun rains gold, the moon rains silver). Fitting in seamlessly with the theme of nomadism this relative of the camel might also refer as much to religious architecture and temporary dwellings as to a restlessness within the artists practice itself.'- The State of the Art, 3D and Sculpture