Pippa is a practicing artist who has exhibited her work all around the UK, with a deep passion for reusing the objects she finds within her work, and always with the environment at the heart of what she creates. Here she talks to us about her work, through our Featured artist’s five questions.
1 - Could you explain your practice to our readers? Only you know why you do what you do.
I am a wild swimmer, a mother, a grandmother, and a collector. The combination of these led me to my practice of environmental art, using discarded plastics as my main material.
I have a particular interest in our use and relationship with single use plastic. I look at man’s inevitable impact on nature by using found plastic bags, bottle tops and found beach plastic … ubiquitous and disposable materials and objects that do untold damage to our environment if discarded and used carelessly. Plastic’s unimaginably long lifespan, coupled with how casually we, as a society treat it, becomes a perfect metaphor for our almost blind overconsumption of the material.
In the words of philosopher Roland Barthes … “the essence of an object has something to do with the way it turns into trash” - possibly meaning that once an object has been discarded, and thus absolved of its function, its form becomes brightly visible - out of its original place and freed from its status as a commodity. Once an object is no longer treated in terms of its use value, the ’thingness’ and ‘unwontedness’ of an item intensifies. This is when I become interested in it. I enjoy the dichotomy that is created through presenting a 21st century by-product as something of beauty. I hear people say ‘ that’s beautiful!’ followed shortly by a second thought 'oh no it’s not - it’s plastic’ … perfect.
I’ve lived through the wonder of plastic in the fifties and sixties, and now I’m living with its overuse, misuse and demonization. In my art I try to work out my real feelings about this revolutionary material.
I visit beaches regularly, particularly following a storm, to pick up pieces of plastic. The processes that follow involve mindful taxonomy and grouping to create arrangements that, at times, speak of scientific plates and classification.
2 - Is art relevant today ?
I have never considered myself particularly able in expressing my true feelings in words. However, I can say a huge amount with one piece of art. I can raise awareness, ask questions, elicit emotions and ideas, and start conversations. Art and craft are my way of expressing concerns and emotions and I think it is still totally relevant today, perhaps more than ever. I noticed, with huge pleasure, that during lockdown people starting making. It was such a great thing to see! It is a fundamental skill that so many lose as they grow older, but often come back to because of the do-ability by all, and satisfaction it gives. Can you imagine life without art? Can you imagine lockdown without art?!
3 – We are always asked what other artists influence us, we what to know what art/style/period you don’t like?
It is incredibly hard to narrow down what art I like and dislike. I have always enjoyed being a maker, and even as a child took huge pleasure and satisfaction in making something out of nothing. I look at artists like El Anatsui and admire his methods hugely. I know that during the repetitive joining of materials there is time for reflection on the materials and their provenance. Another artist that uses found materials and thought provoking systematic methods is Kate MccGwire. She uses feathers to create the most monumental and beautiful (if slightly creepy!) installations. Robert Raushenberg inspired me, knowing that he was one of the first artists to use trash in his assemblage and collage works, and Tomoko Takahashi is another artist that uses found objects to make wonderful sprawling installations.
4- If you could go back 10-20 years What would you tell your younger self?
If I travelled back 10 years I would find myself just starting out on my artistic journey. I had been an Occupational Therapist for 30 years - a creative enough profession - but I knew that I had to explore my relationship with making. I left my job and enrolled at Reigate School of Art to do a foundation, followed by a degree at Farnham UCA. I would say ‘you go girl!!’
5 – If you could go forward 10-20 years what do you hope to have done or not done?
If I travelled forward in time I’d hope to still be making, to have a balance between my role as a grandmother and an artist, that I’d helped to encourage the awareness of many youngsters through workshops and that our misuse of plastic had minimised. I have enjoyed being Surrey Artist of the Year because of the increased audience it gives me, and am content at this level of exposure.
This is a picture of me in my studio, ‘playing’ with my found beach plastic, wondering what they will say to me this time …
Coral Reef
49 x 49cm
2019