Parallel Lines

Yoneko Shiraishi-West and Nick West are showing together at Phoenix Art Space on December 5 and 6, under the title Parallel Lines. The two bodies of work are hung side by side, and the exhibition is described as a conversation between them — a relationship the title refers to. It runs alongside the Brighton Art Book Fair, so it's a good one to pair with a wander through the books.

At the heart of the show is Healing Prayers, a deeply personal body of work by Yoneko Shiraishi-West, inspired by her recovery from a serious illness. She works with Momigami, a traditional Japanese papermaking technique where the paper is repeatedly crumpled and softened. The process itself is part of the meaning: the crumpled paper stands in for wounds, memories and resilience, while her use of colour tells stories of hope, transformation and renewal. Nick West brings his own perspective to the room, and the two sets of work sit together rather than separately.

Between the two, the exhibition looks at how creativity can support physical, psychological and spiritual healing. It's a quiet, personal starting point that opens up into a wider question about how making things helps us get through the hard bits. If you're already heading into town for the Brighton Art Book Fair, this is an easy add-on — it's in the same building, so you can do both in one go.

Entry is £2, and it runs on December 5 and 6 at Phoenix Art Space in Brighton.