Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate, originally planned as a large-scale grounded printing plate marked by the action of the sea off North-West Scotland, was subverted by the intervention of an Atlantic storm during its 12-hour sea submersion. When the plate was recovered the next morning, it had turned into an artefact manifested from nature being powerful enough to overwhelm human intention. I then took the plate that was now twisted permanently into its present form, and etched it in acid. I also made a base plate for this piece, photo-etched using an image of the rocks upon which it was dashed.

Brian D Hodgson, 2021

Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate - the plate being submerged under the waves - North-West Scotland, December 2019

I wonder if tonight I will dream of this thing -
fitful beneath crashing waves -
will it still be there in the morning?
or vanished, released into its own entirely private journey?

Brian D Hodgson, 2019

A ritual has developed of tethering etching plates in these rough seas - an exhilarating act, affecting not only the artwork but also the artist's state of mind during submersion; it is one of unknown outcomes, carrying a real possibility of loss or transmutation.

Atlantic-Formed Sea Plate is an expression and measure of the power of the sea through a winter's night storm and of 'corrasion', a process that transforms coastlines. The work is still 'live', and subject to environmental change and the agency of the artist.

Brian D Hodgson, 2026