Maker in Residence: Mandy Brannan

Mandy has been making paper since the 1990’s. Her approach combines traditional bast fibers (gampi and kozo) with leaf fibers (abaca and sisal) to create beautiful, multi-tonal patterns.

Gathering inspiration from the natural and the built world, many of Mandy’s pieces speak to her deep appreciation of architectural form. From smaller, precise pieces to large-scale, experimental works, Mandy’s practice is vast and varied – sometimes incorporating found materials, recycled textiles, bright pigments or unique textures to create unique, one-of-a-kind papers.

Alongside creating new works, Mandy taught a six-week paper-making course to members of the Institute. Students joined us to explore all things paper: from how to create a perfect paper sheet to playing with pigmentation, colour, fibre embedding and the fundamentals of recycling.

Participants from a wide range of disciplines - from bioengineering to architecture and fine art - found their flow with Mandy's papermaking materials. From rolling fresh sheets of paper onto walls and windows to taking time to carefully choose pigments and fibres, each member fully embraced play and precision during the workshops.

During her residency, Mandy also created pieces inspired by UCL Marshgate and the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Influenced by 12th-century maps of Stratford, Mandy wanted to create work that reflected the building that we call home in UCL East.

Starting by tracing maps in detail, from the market gardens to the abbey and allotment boundaries, Mandy then translated these sketches into varied colours, textures and materials; meticulously crafting a palette that truly reflected the area.

During this process, she also harvested grass from the surrounding green lands, embedding her findings into papers to show the progression and growth of Stratford throughout the years.