Lesley Hilling - Ubik

Size: 150 x 150 x 15 cm

Medium: salvaged wood, found objects.

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This piece gradually transitions in tone from white through grey into black, creating a delicate and intricate structure that houses small artifacts of memory. The found objects and photographs within are often placed behind magnifying glasses, which distort them, much like time distorts our memories. As viewers move around the piece, this distortion disorients and reorients, inviting them to reflect on the fluidity of recollection.

The structure is composed of a grid-like mesh of interconnected wooden networks, which, when viewed from a distance, resemble maps or aerial views of a city. It evokes the skeletal framework of urban spaces, reminiscent of ruins like Dresden or Hiroshima. However, the piece is not only a reflection of the past; it also suggests contemporary networks and systems — from patterns of settlement and migration to the infrastructure that provides food, water, and heat. It prompts the viewer to consider the often-overlooked details of everyday life: doors, windows, walls, and corners, and how they are constructed.

In crafting the piece, traditional carpentry methods were used, including halving joints, the most common assembly technique in joinery. This approach grounds the work in the physicality of construction, linking it to both past and present frameworks.

This piece, titled Ubik, has been showcased at the Mall Galleries’ ‘Winners’ Show and was also selected as an invited work for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

About the Artist:

Lesley Hilling is a self-taught English artist known for her intricate constructions made entirely from salvaged wood and found objects. Her work reflects a deep connection to the past, incorporating items like cigarette cards, shells, old photos, clock mechanisms, and magnifying glasses. These objects are not just materials but storytellers, inviting viewers to unravel the narratives within each piece. As Lesley herself notes, “the key to the story is with the viewer.”

Originally trained as a graphic designer, Lesley transitioned from design to art over the years, drawing inspiration from artists like Joseph Cornell and Louise Nevelson. Her early work with box constructions has since evolved into larger wall pieces and towering sculptures that evoke both nostalgia and a desire to preserve forgotten fragments of history. Jane England, a notable commentator, describes her art as “a powerful sense of longing to preserve the fragments of the past, a desire for order, a passionate and mysterious evocation of lost moments.”

Lesley’s artistic practice is deeply tied to her life in Brixton, south London, where she has lived for over forty years with her partner Nel. Together, they are active members of the Brixton Housing Co-op, tending to their allotment and sharing their home with two dogs. Lesley’s work is a testament to the beauty of reclaimed materials and the stories they can hold, offering viewers a glimpse into lost moments and hidden memories.