One Thousand and One

violin strings, sterling silverpoint, 22-carat goldpoint and charcoal on prepared panel

23cm x 61cm

November 2024

Stretching for the final, stratospheric E harmonic that marks the end of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sheherazade – at last the lady can sleep peacefully, without fear for her life.

In this drawing and in Fratres, the human hand (a self-portrait) is drawn striving and in a state of tension in charcoal - temporary, of little worth, ashes to ashes. Meanwhile the music ascends freely in precious silver and gold, even the shadows shine.

Close-up and angled detail of the gold- and silverpoint ‘shadows’ of the string, as they catch the light.