Holding On
‘Holding On,’ was a six month project created to build a process of making new work. Creative block often means that creatives loose momentum, which can be a vicious cycle.
The artist tasked herself with completing a new creative project every month for six months. She worked with new ideas as they formed, and the materials she had available. The COVID pandemic hit during this period.
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‘Fruit & Feet,’ is a series of five images which feature the artist’s feet stood against a background, which is a different material in each photograph. In ‘Fruit & Feet,’ Part One, the artist’s feet are positioned in the centre of the image; she stands on a light blue, PVC fabric; her feet are covered in custard and tinned strawberries. In part two, the artist stands on burgundy lining fabric, and her feet are covered in red jelly and pineapple. In part three, the artist stands on black PVC fabric, and her feet are covered chopped banana and Strawberry pudding. In part four the artist stands on pink lining fabric, her feet are covered in maple syrup and mandarins, and she has a plaster on her toe. In part five, the artist stands on acid green, PVC fabric and her feet are covered in whipped cream and tomatoes. Each photograph is in landscape, and the artist has small butterfly tattoos on her feet.
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‘Celebrations,’ is a series of four white, portrait orientated, post cards with drawings in felt-tip pen. The first post card has a drawing of a stamp with the queens portrait on it, outlined in red fine liner, to the top left of the post card. The post card has a border of handwritten text which reads ‘CAN I TAKE A COMPLIMENT?’
The second postcard features red, blue, and green balloons tied to a brick on the floor, with surrounding confetti. A sewing needle is also on the floor. The postcard is bordered by text that reads ‘WHAT IF I DO A GOOD JOB?’
The third post card features a word search, and is bordered by text that reads ‘I DIDN’T MAKE THIS!’
The forth postcard has a rainbow drawn in fine liner with short dashes to create the bands of colour. The postcard is bordered by ‘IM GOOD ENOUGH.’
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‘Holding On’ is a series of five photographs featuring the artist’s hands in various gestures, against colourful backgrounds, and bordered by flowers.
‘Holding On,’ part one, is landscape orientated, the artist’s hands are clasped together, her right hand atop her left. She wears turquoise blue nail polish. Her hands rest atop gold lame fabric, and the image is bordered by pink and yellow chrysanthemums.
‘Holding On,’ part two, is portrait orientated. The artist’s hands are pressed palm down on top of one another against a glittery backdrop, she wears black nail polish. The image is bordered by purple chrysanthemums.
‘Holding On,’ part three, is landscape orientated. The artist’s hands are palm upwards towards the camera and are side by side, pink ribbon tattoos are visible on her wrists. A back drop of dark blue material is surrounded with yellow chrysanthemums.
‘Holding On,’ part four, is portrait orientated. The artist’s hands show two different gestures: the right is clenched in a fist, the left shows two fingers sticking up. A glittery backdrop is surrounded by yellow chrysanthemums. She wears glittery nail polish.
‘Holding On,’ part five, is landscape orientated. The artist’s hands are in a relaxed pose, and lie against a red fabric backdrop, she wears gold nail polish. The image is bordered by yellow chrysanthemums.
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‘At A Time Like This,’ is a photography series created in response to the COVID Pandemic of 2020.
The images juxtapose the reality that accessing food during the pandemic became a site of potential illness,
and the rules and regulations around accessing food an example of authority. Food and health, such as the Vitamin C in fruit used to ward of illness, became examples of the debate around food poverty. Long queues outside of supermarkets: quarden off by red and white tape examples of risk, alarm, and control.
Image one shows a photograph of a female’s feet waiting in line pasted into a scrap book: she is wearing sandals, rolled up blue denim jeans, she stands ahead of a yellow spray painted arrow, next to an orange traffic cone. The scrap book is laid out on a wooden table, to the left of it sits a terracotta plant pot with two green shoots in soil, and above the it a bowl of uncooked brown rice. A clipping from an article reads ‘Churches across the country are delivering Sunday services to worshippers over the internet…’
Image two shows a photograph pasted into a blue page in the scrap book of a queue of people waiting to access a supermarket in a parking lot, there’s traffic cones, and red and white tape. Above, a snippet of text from an article reads ‘Making sure the NHS can cope.’ A top the scrap book page is a red apple, and a glass of water with lemon slices. Lemons are also decorated onto the glass.
Image three is of a blue page in the scrap book, that has a pasted photograph of only red and white tape above tarmac. Beneath text reads ‘The peak was now expected to come in four weeks, after signs that the transmission rate was beginning to fall. New Infections continue to fluctuate…’ The scrap book sits to the left of the image, to the right sits a wooden pestle and mortar with onions and garlic in it, above the scrap book is a patterned bowl with dried tagliatelle in it.
Image four shows a brown page in the scrapbook with two photographs pasted on to it. The first photograph is of a woman standing in the queue with her back facing the viewer, she wears a grey hoodie, brown satchel, and black sweat pants, and is waiting with a trolley. In front of her a male shop worker wears a visor and uniform. Plants are to one side of the queue, which is clearly marked with yellow lines as standing points. The second photograph is of a pavement. Text above the images reads ‘Meanwhile, the government has said members of the Armed Forces will help ensure essential items like groceries can be delivered to people who are at risk.’ Beneath a snippet of text reads ‘Read more from Nick here.’ A side plate of oranges and lemons sits on top of the table and scrap book.
Image five shows a blue page of the scrap book with text and a photograph pasted on to it. The photograph is of a pavement with a sticker that says ‘Stand Here,’ and the artist has placed her foot outside and away from the sticker. The text reads ‘Wuhan woman who cheated checks found in France,’ and also reads ‘Coronavirus ‘Revenge Porn’ surge hits helpline.’ A small snippet of text reads ‘Share This Story.’ To the left of the scrap book are three carrots, and in the top of the image are three potatoes.
Image six is of a brown page in the scrapbook that shows a photograph of an empty queue line in a parking lot. Snippets of text read ‘Coronavirus: UK hospital deaths pass 20,000’ and ‘He says worrying will achieve nothing.’ To the right sits a plate with cloves and a bay leaf, in the top of the image is a bowl of oats on the table.
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‘You’re Strong Be Warned,’ Is a series of three black and white photocopies displaying arrangements of playing cards.
Part One shows three cards arranged vertically to the left of image, starting with two of clubs at the top, next is three of hearts, and finally jack of diamonds at the bottom. To the right of the image are three playing cards arranged horizontally, starting with king of hearts to the far right, four of spades in the middle, and five of spades on the left.
Part Two shows three cards arranged vertically to the left of image, starting with seven of spades at the top, next is the queen of hearts, and finally jack of hearts at the bottom. To the right of the image are three playing cards arranged horizontally, starting with king of diamonds to the far right, the queen of diamonds in the middle, and nine of clubs on the left.
Part Three shows three cards arranged vertically to the left of image, starting with five of diamonds at the top, next is the queen of clubs, and finally the six of diamonds at the bottom. To the right of the image are three playing cards arranged horizontally, starting with two of hearts to the far right, ten of clubs in the middle, and ace of clubs on the left.
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‘The Truth Of The Matter,’ is a series of four mixed media images, which portray the event of the artist being sectioned, juxtaposed with imagery of bird life, and objects of daily living.
Part one features the artist’s point of view; as a male nurse with long, dark, black hair; wearing a green nurse’s uniform and black hoody; stands in the doorway, which is represented with a thin pencil line. To the left of the door way is a drawing of house sparrow perched on a branch. The artist’s bare feet are visible in the bottom of the image. There are black puzzle pieces on the floor between the nurse and the artist. Objects including a pair of socks and a mobile phone are also on the floor.
Part two features three figures kneeling down on the floor, from left to right are a male, a female, and another male, in smart casual clothing. The man to right is carrying a brown, leather, doctors bag. The image shows the artist’s point of view as she lies on the floor next to a half eaten sandwich, and a pile of paper work. In the top of the image is drawing of a female black bird as she eats bird seed, to the right of this is a drawing of tree roots.
Part three is a depiction of the artist on her knees, from behind, being restrained a top a bare, purple, mattress. She wears a white top, and her trousers have been pulled down in order for the nurse to inject her. The artist is surrounded by six male and female nurses in blue and green uniforms, who have hold of her by the arms. In the top of the image, in the back ground, is a large drawing of a male black bird perched on a branch. At the bottom of the image a drawing of a tooth brush can be seen.
Part four features two clenched fists raised above a bed and window with a view of a garden; in the lower left corner of image is a drawing of a robin. Also seen are a pair of trainers and a cup.
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‘Stand Yur Ground Neutralize Nepotism Today!’ Are two mixed media art-works that depict surreal events, bordering the images is hand stamped text.
Part one of this diptych features a grassy hill with a door, a sun and blue sky, at the bottom left corner is a bear trap, and to the right are blue bells. The text bordering the image reads ‘Where Am I?’
Part two of this diptych features scrawled drawings of human figures in red felt tip pen, with green eyes, and blue mouths. In the centre is a large round eye with a pink iris. Bordering the image is text that reads ‘Who Is it?’
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‘Touch Down,’ is a series of four mixed media images in a colour palette of green, blue, yellow, red, and black. They feature handwritten text, repeated and photocopied imagery, drawings, and collage techniques.
Part one is arranged with three images collaged onto green paper. The first large image in the bottom half of the art-work, is a photocopy of the back of the artist’s hand, a blue arrow has been pasted to it, with a ink finger print placed on top, the arrow points up the artist’s arm. The two images in the top section of the art work are repeated drawings of a cropped, male’s face in black felt tip pen on blue paper. Hand written across the art-work is text that reads ‘Impressive,’ ‘Maybe you just slipped through the [net],’ and ‘£25 basic rate.’
Part two is an art-work on blue paper, it features two repeated drawings of a male’s distorted face wearing glasses. Hand written text reads ‘You have insight, look…’ A photocopy of the artist’s hand and a leaflet from medication is visible, a yellow square of paper is collaged in the lower left corner.
Part three is an art-work on yellow paper, with the hand written words ‘Keep It,’ repeated over and over again in red pen, overlaying a simple line, self portrait of the artist in black pen.
Part four is an art-work on green paper, featuring a portrait of the artist with short curly hair as a simple line drawing in black pen. Hand written over the art-work are the words ‘You, know what you are just get it..,’ ‘When the time comes it will feel completely natural,’ ‘You wouldn’t get …Would you? and ‘Finish You,’ in black and red marker pens. In the lower left corner the same image of a male’s face from part one is repeated.