‘New Forms & Old Friends’, an exhibition of new work by basketmaker Lise Bech, has opened at the Broughton Gallery near Biggar.

The exhibition is the result of ten months work, supported by a Scottish Arts Council creative development award, which allowed her to step away from symmetry and create asymmetric forms. 

After spending a week in Germany working with basketmaker Klaus Sayfang, whose work she has followed for many years, she carried out experimental work.

In the past her basketmaking has focused on traditional skills and obtaining symmetrical forms, and in her new forms of organic pod shapes and more sculptural shapes she feels there is a new rootedness with the gentle curves reflecting the relationship of the Southern landscape.   She describes her new work as more feminine and expressive.

Lise, who grew up in Denmark, lives in Glenbuck in Ayrshire.  She gathers her own willow, some of which she also grows.   In all of her work she aims to show the beauty of the willow.

‘New Forms & Old Friends’ is on at the Broughton Gallery, Broughton, near Biggar ML12 6HJ tel: 01899 830234 from 24 April until 24 May 2005.    Opening hours are 10.30am to 6pm daily, closed on Wednesdays. 

Lise is launching her own website at www.bechbaskets.net in May.