Brian D Hodgson

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Atlantic-Formed
Sea Plate


Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate by Brian D Hodgson
Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate (2021)
Photo by Teresita Jiménez
Etching, other, photo-etching -
Grounded copper plate, immersed in Atlantic sea storm, etched in acid, displayed on etched and patinated copper base plate
170 x 45 x 100 cm

Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate, originally planned as a large-scale grounded printing plate marked by the action of the sea off North-West Scotland, was subverted by the intervention of an Atlantic storm during its 12-hour sea submersion. When the plate was recovered the next morning, it had turned into an artefact manifested from nature being powerful enough to overwhelm human intention. I then took the plate that was now twisted permanently into its present form, and etched it in acid. I also made a base plate for this piece, photo-etched using an image of the rocks upon which it was dashed.

Brian D Hodgson, 2021



© Brian D Hodgson

Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate - the plate being submerged under the waves - North-West Scotland, December 2019

I wonder if tonight I will dream of this thing -
fitful beneath crashing waves -
will it still be there in the morning?
or vanished, released into its own entirely private journey?

Brian D Hodgson, 2019



Putting the plate in the sea
Putting the plate in the sea
Photo by Asako Yokoya

The ritual of putting etching plates in rough seas, whilst being an exhilarating act, is also one of risk, carrying a real possibility of loss or transmutation.



Plate under the waves
Plate under the waves



Plate after its transformation
Plate after its transformation



Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate by Brian D Hodgson
Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate detail (2021)
Etching, other, photo-etching -
Grounded copper plate, immersed in Atlantic sea storm, etched in acid, displayed on etched and patinated copper base plate
170 x 45 x 100 cm



Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate by Brian D Hodgson
Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate detail (2021)
Etching, other, photo-etching -
Grounded copper plate, immersed in Atlantic sea storm, etched in acid, displayed on etched and patinated copper base plate
170 x 45 x 100 cm





© Brian D Hodgson