Lisa Sewards continues to explore the parachute object from its pure functional form to its rich association with past stories that she has uncovered, both personal and historical.  An image of a medusozoa, or as captured Sewards’ mind, a “maritime parachute” caught her interest due to its visual lineage to Parachutes, which have been fundamental in her retrospective bodies of work. The medusozoa image and its article led to research into the serene waters of Truk Lagoon in Micronesia, the resting place for hundreds of sunken vessels, aircrafts and their ghosts.

Truk Lagoon was the location of Japan’s naval stronghold in the central Pacific during WW2 and in February 1944 America’s Operation Hailstone struck its fleet and the lagoon floor was transformed into a macabre and haunting graveyard.  Nature has hidden and healed the scars of this event, which has receded into history, and today a magnificent underwater world exists of colourful reefs, corals and abundance of jellyfish varieties. This watery grave is an incredible time capsule and submerged museum within a peaceful flourishing marine ecosystem.

Sewards has sourced small US military pilot parachutes that are reminiscent of jellyfish.  They are suspended in her studio providing inspiration for her illusory “parajellys”.  These chutes will physically be incorporated into the Thousand kisses deep exhibition adding a third dimension.

In producing this body of new works, Sewards’ drawings are etched into solar plates and then the final prints are all hand pulled on a press. She is reworking several of the prints to create large-scale pigment prints which will cover one gallery wall reflecting fractured lagoons. These works on paper and a suite of oil paintings are parallel through their colour palette, imagery and quiescent application.

To reference Dr Julie Cotter “Sewards imbues her work with a poetic stillness that suggests notions of reflection and passiveness”.