New exhibition Imprinted will showcase the works of two artists who explore time, memory and loss through their works. Looking at their own lives and experiences, artists Jane Glynn and Suman Gujral use painting, drawing, print and ephemera to capture their experiences and explore their own personal histories. In tracing a subjective journey, these artists demonstrate how histories are reconfigured and changed by personal narratives, perspectives and current ideas.

Artists Jane Glynn and Suman Gujral will each occupy one of the Keepers’ Galleries; two intimate spaces inside St Albans Museum + Gallery where the Keeper of the Town Hall once lived.

Jane Glynn's practice explores her personal experience of time and memory through a diverse range of materials such as oil painting, drawing, bookmaking, sculpture, animation and graphic memoirs.

For this exhibition, Glynn will be presenting twelve oil paintings of garden flowers, with twelve silk pockets of dried flowers and vases, all originating from her family home which she collected and painted over the course of a year. These temporal artefacts map the passage of time just like personal diaries, calendars or memoirs.

Suman Gujral’s use of etching and monoprint echoes how life experiences and family history leave their traces on us in the same way that the acid of the etching process leaves both intentional and accidental marks on the plates. Her own experience of cancer and her mother’s experience of 1947 Partition in India are both examples of significant life events, which leave enduring traces upon us.

The artist’s monoprints of unravelling string respond to findings at her mother’s home. Whilst helping her mother to declutter, she came across a drawer full of balls of string alongside her father’s neatly folded handkerchiefs. The materials act as symbols for discovering the deep impact of Partition and forcible displacement on her family. Meditating on her parents’ experience of starting again twice – after Partition in 1947 and then emigrating to the UK in 1965, led her to consider the parallels to the current migration crisis – told/untold, a monoprint installation, reflects on this.

Free Event:

Mobile Boats

20 January 2.00 - 4.00

Create your own hanging boat with Suman Gujral

Inspired by the artist’s installation in the West Keeper’s Gallery, Suman will bring her own printed-paper you can use to cut out boat shapes and more. Once you have added some thread, you can take to hang at home. Suitable for all ages.

Today’s Flowers

27 January 2.00 - 4.00

Make a flower picture with Jane Glynn

Using natural materials, collage and paint, create your own picture to take home, inspired by a vase of fresh winter flowers. The artist’s own painting of flowers are on show in the East Keeper’s Gallery.  Suitable for all ages.

Supported by