Transcript Joanne Smithers Open Space

Joanne Smithers
Open Space
C.V
• Name: Joanne Smithers
• D.O.B: 01/07/1978
• Address: 3f3 62 Montgomery Street,
Edinburgh,Eh7 5ja. Scotland
• Education: Ma.hons Cultural History,
currently studying for Ba.hons Tapestry
Artist Statement
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I am currently exploring our relationship with animals and what this says
about ourselves and our society.
I am looking closely at the practise of taxidermy and the idea of animals as
objects. I have been looking at the authenticity in taxidermy, the value we
place upon the ‘natural’ form created which is really anything but.
I believe that you can learn much about ourselves through how we view and
treat animals.
I have taught myself basic taxidermy and have been using basic taxidermy
forms to explore this creating both objects and drawings.
I have recently begun to experiment with using other types of precious
materials, such as rhinestones as decorative matter in creating alternative
decorative objects.
I have been influenced by reading Borges’ book of Imaginary beings and
Baudillard’s theories on our relationship with animals.
“ The sentimentality in which we view animals is a clear sign of the disdain
in which we hold them” Baudillard
I am not particularly an animal lover
Why I would like to go
• What duty do we have as artists in today's cultural society. In a world
where art is increasingly viewed as a good investment and the major
stories read about art is which monetary record has been broken by
the latest auction is art still relevant to the population at large and is
this what we should be striving towards?
• As an artist working today I have a need for my work to be relevant
and I believe that a healthy society envelopes it artists to enhance
its culture, not merely in a decorative form but as reference point for
society as a whole.
• Art can exist in many forms and influences every part of daily life,
whether on a conscious or subconscious level it enriches our
common experience .
• As an artist I feel it is imperative to develop a critical voice, to know
how to disseminate not just other artists work but also my own. I
would like to develop this skill and believe this workshop would be
an invaluable experience in developing this.
• As an artist I have questioned the making of art. Why I make things,
who are they for and what I hope to achieve. Being the first in my
family to work as an artist or to be involved in the art world I have
come to the situation where my own family has questioned whether
what I am producing is art. I have asked if I want to create things
which many people find to be inaccessible or simply do not consider
to be art. If the majority of people do not consider what I am doing
to have any significance to them, who am I making for and to what
end?
• As an artist I can not ignore the environmental impact of my work, in
a situation where we are faced with environmental damage is it
always ethical to create more things. How do we as artists weigh up
the environmental impact of our work, for example flying to Germany
for this workshop with what we can achieve by going there. It is a
very hard question but one which cannot be ignored.
• I believe that one of the most important roles art can play within
society is in opening up a dialogue. In order to do this successfully it
is important that as an artist that you have a strong critical
grounding. I am not interested in merely creating decorative pieces. I
feel that my time at college has been mostly spent concentrating on
the practical aspects. I feel my work would benefit greatly at this
point from this opportunity to further my critical thinking
• I noticed that One Hundred Years of Solitude was on the reading list.
This has long been one of my favourite books. I think we can take
magical realism as a template for our society as it could or should
be. A place where the magical is commonplace, an accepted part of
everyday life that enriches and informs everyone’s experiences. This
is what I would like to do as an artist.