SERENDIPITY: Finding beauty by accident. My art has always been inspired by Serendipity; I have the best Junk Market in London between my home and my studio. Three times a week objects await discovery.
For my project,'The Remains of Myth' I am constantly seeking costumes which have significance in terms of Jungian Archetypes with particular reference to gender stereotypes. A PVC Bunny-girl outfit with fluffy ears could not be more appropriate for my process; a favourite of girls on hen nights it cries out for deconstruction. The costume having somehow lost its bunny tail and the need to fill the bra top led to my using metallic scourers as substitutes. Adding a harsh fireproof element to the traditional image of the sexually submissive, overtly sexualised woman seemed a fitting comment.
For my project,'The Remains of Myth' I am constantly seeking costumes which have significance in terms of Jungian Archetypes with particular reference to gender stereotypes. A PVC Bunny-girl outfit with fluffy ears could not be more appropriate for my process; a favourite of girls on hen nights it cries out for deconstruction. The costume having somehow lost its bunny tail and the need to fill the bra top led to my using metallic scourers as substitutes. Adding a harsh fireproof element to the traditional image of the sexually submissive, overtly sexualised woman seemed a fitting comment.
ALCHEMY: Transformation through fire, lead into gold is seen as the goal of the Alchemist. However the fire is merely a symbol as is the lead and gold. The fire which Prometheus stole from the Gods and gave to man was the fire of intellect, spirit and creativity which transformed man from mere animal.
In a previous exhibition, 'The Skin I'm in.' I was working on a large drawing on paper of a thug in a frock to which I stuck a beaded dress. I was desperate to integrate the frock into the picture and eventually arrived at the idea of burning the surface. The netting on which the beads were sewn melted in the fire leaving the beads stuck to the surface, a happy result.
In a previous exhibition, 'The Skin I'm in.' I was working on a large drawing on paper of a thug in a frock to which I stuck a beaded dress. I was desperate to integrate the frock into the picture and eventually arrived at the idea of burning the surface. The netting on which the beads were sewn melted in the fire leaving the beads stuck to the surface, a happy result.
REMAINS: In archaeology and autopsy we examine the remains both human and cultural in an attempt to reconstruct the original. The burning process is not controllable, it not only transforms but destroys and eliminates. It is part of the artistic process to reconstruct; to bring back to life. The original visual idea was to create life size images from some sort of archival illustration.
PHOENIX:
DECONSTRUCTION, DESTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION
I BURN FROCKS; THAT'S WHAT I DO.
DECONSTRUCTION, DESTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION
I BURN FROCKS; THAT'S WHAT I DO.