saccade /sa’ka:d/ n. a brief rapid movement of the eye between fixation points. [French, = violent pull, from Old French saquer, sachier ‘to pull’]. saccadic masking is characterised by discontinuous or sporadic movement; jerky

Saccadic masking, also known as saccadic suppression, is a phenomenon where our brain actively "blanks out" or minimises visual perception during rapid eye movements (saccades), making us ‘blind’ for a fraction of a second. This action prevents the visual system from becoming overwhelmed by motion blur allowing us to see a clear, stable image.

The works contain some space-between of 40mm. This is a nod to the 40 mins each day, it is said, that we are rendered ‘blind’ due to saccades.

My work explores our attempts to construct a complete understanding from fragmented information. I am interested in the interplay of seeing/masking/revealing, and the space in-between, where these acts become the subject as much as the subject itself.

This idea is further illuminated by the Japanese notion of ‘ma’, the concept that encompasses ‘space’, ‘gaps’ or ‘pause’ with a deeper meaning than just the physical space between things (often referred to as negative space). This concept refers to the conscious awareness of this space and its power to create rhythm, harmony and balance. It is the space that allows elements to coexist and relate to each other making the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

The triptych evokes the flashes of information one might receive when looking out of the window on a train or car journey. The brain wants to fill in the gaps and make sense of the partial information. 

OB Art Scholar Gr '95.

Elizabeth Rose is a multi-disciplinary landscape painter living in Dorset whose practice encompasses fine art, interior design and bespoke pieces for the home. She holds a degree in Fine Art from City and Guilds of London Art School and a Distinction Certificate in Interior Design and Decoration from the Inchbald School of Design.

Elizabeth took her artwork beyond the canvas when she started painting lampshades in her distinctive style for her own home during the renovation of her Dorset cottage in 2020.

Since then she has been painting shades for interior designers and private clients alike; including commissions for The Ned (Soho House) and for interior designers Max Rollitt and Salvesen Graham, amongst others.

Elizabeth's enthusiasm and passion for art and design also extends to lecturing students at design colleges The Inchbald, KLC and Chelsea College of Art & Design.

A number of her oil paintings are held in the Royal Collection.