Building a Visual Language of Colour and Symbols with Sarah Boris

Today I’m in conversation with the extraordinary Sarah Boris, an artist who treats symbols like building blocks and colour like architecture. Her practice moves between sculpture, drawing, printmaking, painting, and bookmaking, yet everything she makes feels connected by a rigorous, playful logic. You migaht know her Fragile UK Flag, a reimagined Union Jack made from delicate tape and paper, exhibited at the Design Museum in London and now held in major public collections including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France A national emblem made vulnerable. A bold gesture made breakable. But this conversation is less about icons and more about expansion. We dive into her modular works, a vast body of over one hundred drawings that evolved into nesting sculptures, furniture modules, and her largest sculpture to date. We talk about scale not as ego, but as curiosity. And then there is Time for Peace, a conceptual clock that quietly marks the peace symbol four times a day. No grand spectacle. Just a subtle interruption in the rhythm of time. This episode is about systems and softness. About building something precise without losing play. About committing to a visual language so fully that it begins to grow its own architecture. KEY TAKEAWAYS Nothing is fixed. Elements can shift, nest, expand, contract. A drawing can become a sculpture. A book can become a building. A word can hold two languages at once. Let your smaller works teach you how to build bigger ones. Let your practice evolve in modules rather than leaps. If you’ve been sitting on an idea that feels too playful, too colourful, too structural, or too ambitious - test it, stack it, and see what it becomes. There is quiet power in artists championing one another. If someone can’t find you, they can’t commission you. If they can’t commission you, they can’t support your ideas. BEST MOMENTS “Being in a different place, with different light, different language, different constraints, can unlock entirely new bodies of work - a reminder that context is not a backdrop. It’s a collaborator.” “If I hadn't had the website, this beautiful story wouldn't have happened.” “She handles cultural signs with care, but she isn’t afraid to rework them.” “I was self-sabotaging in so many areas.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://sarahboris.com https://www.instagram.com/sarahboris_ldn PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She has sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership/ **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.