Leslie Wayne | Not Forgotten 1 & 2

However, these works don't necessarily evoke doom. As Wayne says, "broken windows tell a story of damage, and the possibility of repair." Her windows are a direct commentary on the broken world she sees around her, but also offer a sense of hope in the ability to heal. Wayne relates this to the Japanese craft tradition Kintsugi, the act of repairing pottery with gold – though once damaged, the piece becomes more valuable having endured that experience.

Not Forgotten 1 and 2 relate to Wayne's larger practice in both motif and technique. Wayne is known for her highly dimensional use of paint which she works with in an almost sculptural way. She uses paint like any other material – scraping, manipulating, cutting, forming – to build each work of art. Though not three-dimensional, Wayne approaches printmaking in a very similar manner; she makes the material work for her instead of abiding by traditional techniques. Instead of rolling ink on a surface as is typically done in relief printing, Wayne uses a palette knife to scrape a puddle of ink onto a piece of plexiglass to create the unique, marbled surface seen in Not Forgotten 1 that she refers to as "toxic ooze," a metaphor for her unease. The juxtaposition of this illusory surface with the verisimilitude of the wooden frame surrounding them create a surrealist image. Both works invite you to reflect upon yourself and your impact on the world around you, while also reminding you of your role in that world's repair – as Wayne says, "a broken window is also an invitation for some sort of renewal. A window can be fixed, new histories can be made."

Not Forgotten 1 & 2 are editions of 25 and are available directly through Durham Press. For more information on these works, or about previous pieces that Wayne has produced with Durham Press, please contact sales@durhampress.com.