Tell us about yourself.
Helen Slater Stokes gained an M.A. from the Royal College of Art in 1996. Having set up her practice in 1999, exhibiting both nationally and internationally, she went back to the Royal College of Art in 2013 and completed a PhD by practice in 2020. Helen lectures and has presented research papers at numerous conferences, most recently the Glass Art Society (GAS) Conference 2019, in Florida. Her work has been selected to be shown at the British Glass Biennale 2017 and 2019, and is held in both public and private collections.
Helen uses the medical science of optical perception in conjunction with historic and contemporary illusionary image techniques. This work discusses our notion of ‘Space and Place’ and challenges our spatial perception. Pieces adopt traditional observational drawing techniques to capture perceived depth, in conjunction with contemporary lenticular image and lens technology. Her work asks questions about the observed three-dimensional nature of an image and the possibility of fabricating a virtual space within glass.
What draws you to the material you work with?
I am interested in the illusionistic qualities of glass and its ability to draw the viewer into its depth.
What themes do you pursue in your work, and why have you chosen the processes that you use in your work?
My current PhD research examines the optical perception of an image in glass. Challenging the conventions of how we see an image behind or within glass by using glass as a facilitator in creating a virtual three-dimensional rendering of the two-dimensional pictorial plane.
What is your dream project?
To work on site-specific installations which create an augmented reality within the landscape.
What is something that most people do not know about you?
Generally, barring family, most people don’t realize that I am an identical twin.
Why are you a member of GAS?
GAS membership allows me to expand my knowledge of glass and my network of like-minded makers designers and artists.