Investigating The Owl Service
Through print and paper, ‘Investigating The Owl Service’ explores the story, themes, and legacy of the classic low fantasy children’s novel by Alan Garner.
In his work, Garner often intertwines ancient legend and contemporary life, using landscapes and objects as devices for storytelling. Published in 1967, The Owl Service is set in a small town in North Wales where its three teenage protagonists are haunted by a malevolent goddess named Blodeuwedd. When constructing my visual response I was mindful of the story’s context and employed various print and bookmaking techniques. I have used intaglio to map the notable locations in the book. I used other relief methods such as monotype and debossing to craft a booklet and recreate the titular paper owls.
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“She wants to be flowers, but you make her owls. You must not complain, then, if she goes hunting.”