Valentine card (1857-65), artist unknown. Image courtesy of Birmingham Museums Trust.

 

‘I love love. Within that, I love the symbols, gestures and tokens used to express this profound emotion. A dozen red roses, a stuffed, plush teddy bear reading ‘I LOVE YOU’, across its fur-ridden chest, a heart-shaped box of champagne truffles and, of course, Valentines cards.

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In writing my proposal for this Fellowship, I was determined to learn the ways in which emotion, and love by extension, can be contained in objects. How do you communicate your love to someone? What does that love look like? Is it floral, golden, and bathed in angels? Is Cupid at your side, with a bow and arrow, ready to puncture your lover?’