Hi Liz- 28.04.11 - Task 4

What artists do you like, and give a few examples of their work...

Jenny:

There are so many artists that I really am interested in, but I am going to put just a few....

Sinta Werner, she was on the MFA with me at Goldsmiths, and has such an interesting approach to architectural space, with all works executed with such detail and skill.  She is currently represented by Nettie Horn. 

Sinta Werner MFA Degree Exhibition, Goldsmiths College, 2007

Pablo Bronstein, an artist that works in drawing, most recently, perverting structural forms through 'postmodern drawings'.

'Large Building with a Courtyard', Pablo Bronstein

And my old favourite, Diana Cooper..

'Orange Alert', Diana Cooper

Liz: One of the hardest questions as I have so many. As I previously mentioned my first big photographic inspiration came from Wolfgang Tillmans - the fact that everything for him was potential subject matter was what engaged me with his practice so much.

For me he manages to capture those 'chance encounter' moments, which are so vital to strong photographic work, whilst also being able to carefully compose a scene, bringing banal and everyday objects into pure moments of beauty - I know a lot of photographers who don't like his work but that doesn't really matter to me.

 Casual Beauty

Another artist I have always been excited by is Sophie Calle - She is quite old school really but a classic artist to appreciate. Her 'Shadow' project and 'Hotel rooms' are of particular interest to me. For Calle the work seems much more about the performance and the process, choosing almost a documentary style of images and photographs to showcase the outcomes of her projects. The works never seem simply documentary though, but almost take on an installation format when presented. For me Calle represents, photographer, performer, voyeur, conceptual artist and feminist all wrapped in one. She immerses herself within her projects and this is something I would love to be able to develop myself - crossing photography projects into installations and process based works. 

Another artist, much closer to home for me, is a fellow graduate from Glasgow School of Art. Silja Lefisdottir's graduated from Fine Art Photography with me in 2008, and I just found her work so playful and inviting. There was real charm to her projects and as an artist, myself, who was preoccupied with human nature, playful scenarios and questioning aspects of the everyday, I felt a strong connection with her work. 

 Image by Silja Lefisdottir, 'It is easier to let go if you forget about gravity'

Task 1 - Day 1

Tell me, why you wanted to become an artist when you began your further education? How has your understanding of being an artist evolved since this date?


Jenny: I wanted to become an artist because I have always loved to draw and make things more than anything else (this is starting to sound like a badly written UCAS statement!).  When I initially applied to art college, I wanted to study painting, but as I went through my first year studies at DOJCAD, I found I was more interested in working in a multidisciplinary manner.  At the beginning of my studies, I had a poor understanding of the professional practice involved with being an artist, and I do not think until I graduated did I start to glean a clearer idea of ways to support, finance an develop my practice.  Studying at Goldsmiths on the MFA certainly opened my eyes further to the endeavour of 'being an artist', the majority of achieving this is about getting 'on with it', and creating opportunities for yourself and your peers.

Liz: I guess I have always felt at home with the arts; visiting galleries, working in the art class, drawing, sketching, doodling, making, photographing - the works. I went to see Wolfgang Tillmans at Tate Britain when I was 16 and fell in love with his photography, I wanted to make work like that. I went back to school and told my art teacher that I wanted to do Fine Art Photography at the GSA but never thought I could or would actually do it, safer to do English Lit or Journalism maybe?? Then she said 'of course you should do it, you should only ever do something you love in life or you will never put your all into it'. And so I broke the bad news to my mum - 'I am going to try and be an artist'. I think she has just about forgiven me now, in fact I am sure she secretly likes it.

Since I graduated from Glasgow School of Art, (A place I adored and will always want to go back to) I had an initial six months panic about my life, but then 'indecisively decided' to try a bit of everything - internships, workshops, being an art teacher's assistant - the usual. In fact I tried to do so much that I actually forgot about the one thing I enjoyed the most - my practice, creating my own work. After a few years now though I have actually come to the conclusion that you need to surround yourself in a variety of creative environments - this way you can always stay inspired and hopefully opportunities come up where you can develop your work, skills and general professional practice. And by juggling a mixture of artist career paths - you can afford your dinner too.