Better Luck Next Year
Solo Exhibition - 2020
I created this body of work during the first 2020 lockdown while experiencing and observing collective feelings of frustration, boredom, anxiety and tenderness that came with the sudden quarantine period. It felt like the veil had been lifted on the illusion of a perfect life- especially on social media. The pressure to uphold the busy schedule in the pursuit of success was put on hold for a time. The playing field was levelled, and in this enforced period of isolation came an amplified need for connection.
I took my observations of different aspects of this experience and channeled them into a series of wry, typographical vessels, which are a hybrid of Amphora and trophy in their design. I was inspired by traditional Amphora and how these decorative forms give insight into life thousands of years ago. As I was brainstorming the collection, I imagined that an archeologist might one day dig up one of these vessels, and the pieces would ‘scream’ their messages through the 3D capslock typography. I also wanted the work to be a series of awards for a year where none of us were winners. The collection includes 14 large vessels plus a selection of mini vases, acrylic jewellery and a performance piece (video).
In the performance piece (Filmed and photographed by Charlotte Tegan) I am dressed in a vintage 50’s style frocks. and elaborate mask tied in a bow on top of my head. I fill a vessel emblazoned with the phrase ‘Doing Great Thanks’ with cereal, sweets, milk and whipped cream, and then push it off the table. I was inspired by the work of Ai Weiwei and Pipilotti Rist and the notion of trying to ‘keep up appearances’ while the world was falling apart around us.
This exhibition was presented online from October 9th-25th 2020 by The Third Quarter with curation by Soph Kubler and Emily Devers. Photography by Charlotte Tegan and Anwyn Howarth.
We were were lucky to be able to hold a one night pop-up at Felix For Goodness Cafe on October 9th with 4 socially distanced viewing sessions throughout the evening.
