Bel Lowe

I create large abstracts using acrylic and oil pastels which I tear up and layer. They blur the line between painting and sculpture and immerse the viewer in colour and energy. Paper’s delicate, rebellious nature draws me in with its imperfections. When I tear it, the process is unpredictable and organic, invoking impulse and the removal of barriers that stifle creativity.

Sir Ken Robinson stated “If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original” a lesson I embraced during my degree. Making mistakes and experimenting strengthens my creativity. I aim to rediscover my inner child by allowing myself to play and enjoy the process. I want my art to encourage others to recognize the importance of play as adults.

Researching Yayoi Kusama, whose art stems from her struggles with mental health, influenced my work. Kusama's iconic dots and repetition are described as an obsession, a sentiment I share with my ripping process. It is grounding and essential to my creative practice.

Art regulates both the mind and body, offering freedom and expression. As Sir Ken Robinson stated, “Creativity is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” My work embodies this belief, providing a space with no ‘wrong.'