Lena Sass Hughes - artist/printmaker

artist statement:

Lena describes herself as an alchemist as much as an artist, as she uses the natural chemistry of the earth to create art works for green burials and in memoriam. Her Shrouds and Ashes are both authentic and beautiful created through the earths natural processes.

Her ash prints are an adaptation of a process for soil testing invented by anthroposopher  Ehrenfried Pfeiffer. He was a natural and spiritual scientist with a holistic approach which developed theories and interpretations in relation to harmony in life and spirit.  Lena’s  method uses natural sunlight to enable particles of cremation ash to separate and form a unique image, pertinent only to the individual, much like a thumb print. The process, the particles, the chemistry and sunlight  dictates how this image is formed, she says she is "merely the conductor of this orchestra.”  Though Lena uses a spoonful of cremation ash, this process can also use soil from a grave, a burnt fabric from a shroud or any other organic material. The original ash prints will darken over time unless fixed (which turns them grey) so Lena captures them at the optimum moment to create a coloured detailed fine art print, any size.  She encloses the original behind the fine art print for protection and safe keeping.

Her Shrouds are cyanotypes, which is a natural photographic process using sunlight and chemicals which are used for soil balancing, a holistic method to improve soil health. Considering the environmental impact Lena uses these chemicals and organic materials for the shroud itself which are sustainable and biodegradable fabrics, such as linen or hemp. 

As the shroud is wrapped around the body, the images form like tattoos, telling the story of the life of the person within, or designed by Lena wrapped in the symbolism of peace, nature and spirit. Either bespoke or designed, these shrouds envelop the individual with care, and you can be assured by the knowledge that returning her shrouds to the ground, through ceremony or ritual they improve the earth and spiritual balance.

The poetic nature of the cyanotype shroud, is that in light it would fade over time, much like ourselves, but kept in a safe dark place it will stay until the earth takes it. 

"My journey to creating shrouds and ashes followed the death of my husband many years ago. This cathartic experience triggered a desire to enable a meaningful and individual celebration of life for others. My experience as artist and social engagement artist enabled me to create individual shrouds and ashes.”

See whole collection here.

commissions:

Lena’s work is available by commission only. Please contact us in the first instance and we will arrange a call back to begin the process. Shrouds typically take between three days to a week to complete, depending on complexity of design. Ash prints take 2- 4 weeks.

artist bio:

Born in Liverpool, with grandmother as the wise woman who was called upon to “lay people out” and my experience as a disabled child, grounded me and enabled me not to shirk from the difficult.  

Fine art degree BA hons painting and printmaking Sheffield, Lived and worked at an anthroposophy arts centre  Sheffield. Joined Action Space mobile, a ground breaking community arts organisation. Followed by  Lincoln Community arts as co ordinator. Became director of Artlink and arts and disability organisation for Lincolnshire. Travelled to Romania to work in the old orphanages for people with disabilities using the arts as a catalyst for change. Lectured at Lincoln University in multi media and performance. Director of Understanding Arts CIC  and The Professors CIC. Following the death of my husband in 2001 I became a celebrant and consequently made creative shrouds and crematorium ash prints.