Belief in a possible collective ‘utopia’ remains the driving force for much of my theoretical research and practical outputs as an artist and as a citizen.
I make paintings and sculptures of objects (“motifs”) that seek to offer hope and start critical, hypothetical conversation about humanity’s existence and alternative futures. The repetitive motifs throughout my artwork such as fruit, swimming pool ladders, drain covers and tropical plants symbolise various theories and concepts that promote a collective, self-sufficient, emancipated and richly sensual future, amongst other things.
The everyday objects celebrate our collective organisational power and abilities - I am interested in the potential of communalising everything. An aspect of my practice acknowledges the contradictions of dualities such as immediacy and slowness, reflection and reaction, wants and needs and play and serious work, and considers that the role of art is somewhat determined by an on-going need to bring diversity and balance through whatever means necessary.
My most recent works and installation explore exchange. Through ‘permissive material use’, I have been working with materials donated by members of the public for the purpose of creating a ‘utopian playspace’. I have used text to capture the sentiment of these interactions and have considered how far, if at all, to manipulate the donated materials for the purposes of creating the playspace.
Inspired by the ideas of ‘Degrowth’ - a call for planned economic contraction in response to the climate crisis - which reimagines the role, production and consumption of art. I have been considering material scarcity and how through frugal means we can reach sensorial excess. My work is unrefined and uses repetition to intensify the experience it can offer which I hope also raises some question of absurdity. Through this process of exploring exchange that is hopeful and meaningful, I am interested in how ‘we’ can better share and care. I am always willing to exchange ideas about life or art, so it makes sense to say please get in touch
May 2022
Work/ Experience
2022 - PGCE Student, Art Specialism
- BA Fine Art Graduate, Bath Spa University
2021 - Director, Somerset Cooperative Community Land Trust
2020 - Coordinator, Portway Annexe Community Group
- Core Team, Wells (Coronavirus) Community Network
Writing