MAWr with Jane Perkins, UK.
What do you define as art, your philosophy?
I love making art, looking at art and talking about art. I like art with an element of fun and the unexpected – I hope my work will make people smile.
Explain your artistic style and how you developed it.
I studied for a degree in Textiles as a mature student,gaining a First in 2006. During my final year, I focussed on found materials, making hand-stitched brooches from old jewellery, plastic toys, shells and other small found objects. The inspiration for these came from richly decorated, rather bizarre religious headdresses from Ecuador, which I discovered in a book while researching my thesis on recycling in art. I was given lots of materials which were too big for brooches – and the idea of making them into a portrait simply came into my head one day. I have been making portraits of iconic figures since 2008 – they need to be viewed in 2 ways: from a distance (to recognize the person) and close up (to identify the materials.)
I use any materials of the right size, shape and colour: toys, shells, buttons, plastic cutlery, beads, jewellery, curtain hooks, springs etc. No colour is added – everything is used ‘as found’. In 2010 I started making *Plastic Classics*, in which Old Masters are given a contemporary twist.
What is a typical day in your studio like?
Usually, I spend part of my morning on the computer, answering emails, applying for exhibitions, generally sorting out the admin side of my work. Over time I have realised that this time is just as important as making the work itself. In my studio (a messy spare bedroom filled with boxes of random toys, buttons and beads) I will be working on one or two works, applying the found objects to a wooden base with a glue-gun, and periodically viewing it from a distance to make sure it is working. When happy with the final image, I give it a coating of diluted PVA glue.
What is next for you and your art?
Next for me – I have 2 works in progress and some new ideas in my head. I am not sure how my work will evolve – only that it *will *evolve when the time is right.
MAWr with Selina Cheong, London.
What do you define as art, your philosophy?
My art is being interactive with the materials and allowing them to shine. I always use the highest quality in my materials and workmanship to ensure my pieces develop a beautiful patina with age and use.
Explain your artistic style and how you developed it.
My style is about sustainability, simplicity, functionality and luxury. It has been developed simultaneously with available leathers, linings and fittings available to me. The basis of all bags, the pattern cutting, is one of the most important things about the style of my collection. As a maker I manipulate traditional bag constructions to create collections that seem classic but have a slight edge to them.
What is a typical day in your studio like?
Crazy! But full of laughs and hard work with lots of tea. As I freelance for other designers as well it can really be a mixed bag of work.
What is next for you and your art?
Next season AW14, alongside using leathers from sustainable tanneries I am looking into using fabrics with 100% traceability.
MAWr with Shingo Oe, Japan.
What do you define as art, your philosophy?
Art is the infinite feeling. If we desire, we can imagine, create &
arrive whole of world though it´s unknown world, like out side of space or the other dimetion. I mean Art is unique way to use &
show all potential without limit.
Explain your artistic style and how you developed it.
My art styles are Abstract, Pop art & Live painting with music.
Usually I paint by my hand directly for showing the body movement. And also I try to mix spanish art and traditional & modern Japanese art. Various art experience develop me, like the live painting concert in collaborate with the musician or tarining of my martial art, Aikido.
What is a typical day in your studio like?
First watching cloud, feeling air & gravity. Finally when I got
feeling, I could start to create.
What is next for you and your art?
I don´t know it, I just explore whole of feeling on this world. My
art will be the answer.
MAWr with Sloane Merrick, USA.
What do you define as art, your philosophy?
Art is communication, simply put. I can’t take credit for those words, b/c I heard them from another artist but I couldn’t agree with that statement more. Through expression, something is being communicated & if there is no message, then it’s not art. What I am passionate about & feel is my personal philosophy is to communicate beauty. Beauty matters & it saves. If I communicate beauty effectively, it does all the magic by itself.
Explain your artistic style and how you developed it.
I gravitate towards the abstract in a more primitive, almost conceptual direction. I was surrounded by a lot of nature growing up in West Texas & that amount of nature influences & inspires me greatly. Nature is the most beautiful piece of art that exists, in my opinion. There is so much to be learned from it & what it’s beauty does for the human heart cannot be said in words.
What is a typical day in your studio like?
Unconventional! I have no set schedule or routine, just as long as I get my work done.
What is next for you and your art?
I have only been in NYC a few months, but hopefully to sell some art here!
shout@mawr.com.au
