Name: Marian Haf

Artistic medium: Printmaking

You chose to run cyanotype printmaking workshops with patients, public and staff to create artwork for the unit. Can you describe what a cyanotype print is and why did you choose that process for the Leri Cancer printmaking workshops? How have you included the artwork made by patients, staff and public in the artwork?

Cyanotype is a camera less photo-graphic printing process that produces blue prints. Light sensitive iron salts are painted on to paper which are then exposed with UV light, we were lucky to have three glorious days of sunshine to expose our images which were made by using a mixture of found botanicals from the banks of the Leri, the garden at the unit and Aberystwyth north beach along with transparency films made from photographs also taken at those locations. I chose cyanotype for its accessibility it’s a lovely process which gives amazing results with relative ease, its slow paced giving the staff and patients a relaxed and mindful workshop.

Where did you get your inspiration from for the prints for the unit?

My inspiration came from all involved, listening to the teams brief, the individuals on the workshops and Eurig Salisbury words. I feel very much like a curator rather than an artist making these pieces I simply arranged everyone’s contribution in a quiet reflection. 

How do you hope your artwork will impact the patients, staff, and visitors at the Leri Cancer unit?

What I hope for the most is that the work resonates with the viewer and is able to hold them in a quiet conversation.