Beach as Studio 1980

Ceann-an-t-Sailen (pronounced Kintallen) is small bay on the West Coast of Scotland near to the mouth of West Loch Tarbert. The bay is exposed to the Sound of Jura and the prevailing westerly winds. The sand in the bay is continually shifting such that each year when I return it always seems different.

I like to spend much time on this shore observing the tidal world and the photographic pieces in this book are a result of ideas developed on this beach.

It is never my intention to make any permanent sculpture which I, feel would be too much of an imposition on this beautiful sandy bay, but to use photography to record my arrangements of objects. I use the beach rather like a studio except that because everything is done between the tides no traces remain of my activities. I use the mirror in my work because it is only just visible, and reflects a small section of it's environment.

The image of the rectangular mirror is also fitting for the end product - the photographic print. The mirror's shadows and reflections photographed at different times of day and at different states of the tide give an impression of the rhythmn of the beach.

I am fascinated by the sea shore and the creatures that have adapted to live with the rhythmn of the tides.

Chris Jennings Ardpatrick 1980