Ceremonial III
I often get asked about my ceremonial artworks so I thought I would give a little more information and behind the scenes, with some images of work in progress and the reference inspiration.
The photographs I use are vintage sourced or found. This one happens to be from a wedding in the North East of Scotland. (“Family formals” the tradition of getting your photograph taken after a wedding or Christening outside the church).
The masks aspects are inspired by : The mask on the left is inspired by a north-west coast Native American spirit mask from Point-Lena, Alaska, which is held in a collection in the National Museum of the American Indian. The mask is dated from between 1825 and 1875 and is related to a Tlingit myth: ‘The Woman Who Married a Frog.’ The mask is attributed to an artist known as Lelooska.
The mask on the right is inspired by a Costa Rican polychrome effigy vase, which features an anthropomorphic ‘angry face’ design. It’s dated to around AD 1000-1350 and is currently housed in the American Museum of Natural History, in New York. Archaeologists believe these elaborate effigies were used as ceremonial objects, might have held ‘special’ liquids (like chicha) and may have been used in burial rituals.
The artwork sitting somewhere between cultures.
Price: £1200
Donna Briggs
Artist Statement
“It is only in the world of objects that we have time and space.” T. S. ELIOT.
Donna is a contemporary multidisciplinary artist using analogue collage.
Within her practise Donna explores themes of myths, rituals, nature, ceremonies, traditions, history, human existence and experience. Through the use of word associations and prompts she makes connections, investigating themes of the human condition, often with a narrative at the core.
Collecting found objects, photographs, vintage magazines that provide a source of inspiration and material for the work.
Based in Newtonhill, south of Aberdeen, Donna has worked for the past twenty years as an Artroom Artist with the GHAT Artroom Project at Roxburghe House, supporting creative practice within healthcare settings.
Education
2006 Robert Gordon University, Gray’s school of Art - BA (Hons) in fine Art – Printmaking.
2011 Robert Gordon University, Gray’s school of Art - Resident
Awards
2008 Purchase Prize Grampian Hospital Arts Trust
2006 Purchase Prize The Robert Gordon University
2012 The Glasgow Art Club Award
2026 Upright Gallery Award | Solo Exhibition
Solo Exhibitions
2023 Exhibition Parx Cafe Collages
2022 The small gallery ARI GHAT
2021 Parx Cafe November 2021
2011 Foyer Gallery Aberdeen
2006 Under the Hammer Bar
Exhibitions
2026 SSA Exhibition
2025 CastleGate Gallery
2022 The Suttie Arts Space Introducing the Artist
2022 Aberdeen Artist April
2021 Aberdeen Art Centre
2020 Aberdeen Artist Society
2019 GHAT Open Exhibition
2019 Artroom GHAT Exhibition
2018 Inky Protest Peacock Visual Art
2017 Leeds Zine Exhibition
2015 Mark Making Macmillan Art SMart
2014 RSA Exhibition
2013 Award Winners Glasgow Art Club
2013 Aberdeen Artist
2013 SSA Exhibition
2013 Grampian Hospital Arts Trust Deltiology
2012 SSA Exhibition
2012 Aberdeen Artist
2012 Kin Printmaking Pre-Degree show
2012 Foyer Mark making
2012 Grampian Hospital Arts Trust/Shell purchase prize
2011 Claremont Studio Winter exhibition
2011 Peacock Visual Art Winter Exhibition
2011 Peacock Visual Art Black & white
2011 Grampian Hospital Arts Trust Christmas Exhibition
2011 Aberdeen Art Fair SMart
2011 SSA Exhibition
2011 Aberdeen Artist Society
2010 Chapter 11 BP Atrium Gallery
2010 Aberdeen Artist Society
2009 Grampian Hospital Arts Trust Christmas Exhibition
2009 Aberdeen Artist Society
2008 Aberdeen Artist Society
2008 SSA Exhibition
2008 Grampian Hospital Arts Trust Christmas Exhibition
2007 Peacock Visual Art Christmas Exhibition
2007 Gallery Heinzel New Faces
2007 Aberdeen Artist Society
2007 Bridge view New Graduate show
2006 Peacock Visual Art A6
2006 Degree Show June 2006
2006 Peacock Visual Art Folio Suite
2006 RSA Edinburgh
2006 Aberdeen Artist Society
2005 Aberdeen Artist Society
2005 Peacock Visual Art A5
2005 Grampian Hospital Arts Trust Christmas Exhibition
2004 Peacock Visual Art A5
2003 Aberdeen Artist Society
Collections
The Robert Gordon University
Royal Cornhill Hospital Aberdeen
Grampian Hospitals Arts Collection
Aberdeen Asset Management
