BFAP Magazine 2023 - Flipbook - Page 35
Where do you find inspiration?
How has your style changed over time?
I find myself being drawn to ideas of
the unconscious. There is an important
period of time within sleep, specifically
the moments between sleeping and
dreaming, where the mind begins to
wonder and images and words seem to
appear without conscious thought, in a
sense daydreams. These moments and a
self-reflection upon those moments are
where I often find my inspirations and is
the drive for creating work. The people
around me, the conversations I have,
hear, experience, inspire me greatly as
well, but in a way that I don’t know how
to write.
The materials I have used have changed
drastically, but all keeping within the
world and idea of textiles and drawn
figurative image. I originally would use
raw wool to felt my works, but recently
have been finding myself drawn to the
drawn image using handmade oil pastels
onto made curtains. It is a quick and
freeing way of working, but I keep up
the more laborious elements by making
my own curtains and still including
elements of stitch within the work which
I still deem as vital.
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
I have found myself constantly drawn
to artists such as Blake, Kentridge,
Abakanowicz, Carrington, Goya,
Zangewa and alike. Some I find myself
in awe of their imagery and the wildness
of imaginations. In others, I find a
true sense of honesty, honesty in their
imagery, materials and importantly the
way in which they speak about their
work. I am also influenced by film,
the works of Tarkovsky and Lynch to
name a few, and the way they manage
to weave abstracted story-telling that
manages to touch at an essence of this
truth and honesty.
Previous page
Man Becomes
Woman
2023
Oil pastels and
stitch on made
curtain
135 x 200 cm
Left
Meredith is sick
once again
2023
Oil sticks on made
curatin
130 x 200 cm
I find myself drawn to materials, mostly
within the realm of textiles (while not
always). For my fabrics I often sought
out heavy thick cottons and linens, that
then curtains, and other objects can
be created from to act as my base or
ground material. It is important to note
that my work is often unstretched and
free hanging. I do not have a specific
explanation for why, it just feels right.
The same could be said for my use of
oil sticks as well. In a way my use of
material comes down to what feels good
in my hands, and that, for now are oil
sticks and curtains.
What advice would you give to a first
year?
You’re hosting a dinner party for 3
artists, who would it be and why?
To not try and bullshit your way
through the years, try not to give false
interpretations of your own work, speak
truthfully and with pride. In the end the
grade is not what matters, what matters
is being able to respect and know your
work outside of an institution.
David Lynch, Leonora Carrington
and William Blake. I believe the
conversations they would have would
be strange, hilarious, and interesting. It
would bring a smile to my face.
If you could own one piece of art, what
would it be?
How do you see your work evolving in
the future?
The Annuciation by Arthur Hacker, I just
think it’s beautiful.
I see it expanding, literally in scale, I
see the drawings becoming more refined
as well as the imagery and figuration.
Pushing the imagery, text, and material
as far as I can.
How do you decide on your colour
palette for a piece?
I simply dislike mixing colours. So, I
choose simple colours, blacks and reds.
BFAP
Is there a specific environment or
material that is integral to your work?
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2023