The making of the millinery collection has been an emotional pathway I have taken. Although the collection has been inspired by a number of things, the physical making of the pieces was a lot different. As I have explained before sometimes I would sit with a collection of materials and the end result would be dependent on how I am feeling at the time. However the physical construction of the pieces would be formed and shaped to how I transfer my emotions.
Some of the pieces are elegant and powerful, cause at the time of making I was feeling a sense of power and freedom, paying close attention to adding detail and a rich indulgence of colour to illustrate this. On the other hand, some pieces will appear to be sharp, edgy or perhaps dangerous. At these times I was feeling vulnerable, angry, hurt and yes perhaps in danger of how I was feeling at these times.
I have always loved a sense of melancholy within my work, the good and the bad. I feel that it's important to show two sides to my work. Like a Grimm or fairytale there is always the good and the bad and I feel that as an artist it allows me to show two different sides to my life as an artist, and in my everyday life. The good and the bad compliment each other. You can't experience true happiness unless you have experienced true sadness as well.
As an artist I like to be challenged, and my use of materials explores this. I don't like being niche to one thing. Combining a number of different mediums and ways of working into one has always appealed to me and allowed me to create pieces that are bespoke and quaint.
Some of the pieces have elements of personification. Like a living person they convey certain emotions and feelings, persuading the audience to feel something to. Some of the pieces become more alive and kinetic when worn or activated and portray a real sense of physical energy of how they were constructed at the time of making.
The pieces indeed have a real theatrical aesthetic and I do feel this has evolved through my love for theatre and a dreamlike take on life. The collection shows a progression of how my life has evolved over the past five years, exploring love, heartache, trauma and true happiness. For me the work is the narrative to my progression through life.
'The Millinery Collection' opens this Saturday at The Barracks/Theatreofpluck, Belfast, from 6pm to 9pm for one night only.
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