Entitled Sea-Change, a phrase coined by Shakespeare over four hundred years ago, Diane's degree show collection continues to explore her connection to the sea. Objects from childhood are intertwined with memories of her ancestors, her people of the sea - the water babies, the sailors, the pearl-wearers, the story-tellers...

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A Sea-Change is a transformation brought about by the sea.  The Crucifix Fish represents this change; physically, the skull of the sailcat is said to resemble the crucifixion whilst spiritual meaning is conveyed through the legend. A further sea-change occurs when molluscs with shells defend themselves from an irritant, something as simple as a grain of sand. To relieve the irritation they cover it in layer upon layer of nacre which ultimately results in the creation of a pearl.

 

Alchemy, a Medieval science, was thought to be a harnessing of power with which to transform things for a real, or imagined, benefit; it is most commonly associated with the desire to change lead into gold. The cast pewter coins depict alchemical symbols relating to the materials and processes used in this collection – glass, copper, steel and wax, fire, earth, air and water – whilst evoking tales of pirates, shipwrecks and treasure that has lain on the seabed for centuries. Continuing on this theme, and embracing the concept of the Degree Show ‘Matter’, Diane explored ways of using ‘matter’ to create her collection; indeed her collection reflections matters of life and of death alongside a diverse range of materials.

 

Sea change today has a new meaning (and has also lost it’s hyphen!); a ‘profound or notable transformation’, often of policy or thought. It is hoped that this collection will remind others of the beauty that the sea provides, and of the positive impacts on our wellbeing when adopting Blue Mind thinking.

 

The last word[s] however belong to Shakespeare and his hyphen:

 

Full fathom five thy father lies;

Of his bones are coral made;

Those are pearls that were his eyes:

Nothing of him that doth fade,

But doth suffer a sea-change

Into something rich and strange.

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:

 Ding-dong.

Hark! now I hear them,—ding-dong, bell.

 

Shakespeare (1610-11), The Tempest