The dancers depicted are performing to worship songs; their gestures are full of emotion and passion. Margaret often chooses Japanese titles for her works, for the richness of meaning and the sound that the words make. For example Ogamu means pray, adore, venerate; Nayami means agony or anguish. Naku means cry or sing.
I strive for a spiritual elegance and simplicity in my finished works, in contrast to the lengthy, complicated process of making. Sometimes a poem or phrase or idea is given to the dancer as a starting point, from which the work evolves. Further layers add new constructs until the etching process translates the final image into a coherent whole, with rich textures and delicate colour combinations.
- Margaret Ashman.
