Mahal de Man: Lost and Found

About

Mahal de Man often works with text, drawing and collage to layer, label and archive images and thoughts. Her work is about capturing a sense of connection and continuity. She has an interest in objects and stories that give us a sense of place or purpose, like tools (stone age and modern); and objects that appear time-less, like mountains, rocks and celestial bodies.

For this window display Mahal created a new large text piece by rubbing away the ink of a found image. The image was then scanned and reprinted on a larger scale, revealing some of the printing processes involved. This banner is a continuation of a billboard display from 2021 that touched on grief and longing.  Mahal also made a drawing of a handaxe from the British Museum collection that was found a 15-minute walk away from Camden People's Theatre, in 1902. This drawing is the result of many hours spent with the object, and although with the distance of time and space, in the company of its maker and its users. 

Mahal de Man lives and works in London. She graduated from BA Fine Art at Royal Academy of Art, The Hague in 2012. Her work was included in the 2019 and 2021 Drawing Biennial at Drawing Room and last year she completed an artist residency at The Art Station in Saxmundham, Suffolk.