How the artist and animator is navigating the times we’re living in
Like many artists, Alice’s practice and studies came to a halt during the first Covid lockdown. This transitioned into digital learning, graduating online and working from her bedroom. But instead of ignoring this, she let it inspire her art and started creating pieces that look forward to when things start to return to ‘normality’.
While studying at Central Saint Martins, Alice was chosen to create works for the Big Walls & Windows Project, displayed at the university in King’s Cross. This project explored the lockdown-induced emptiness of the busy London location and celebrated the people that had once filled the space.
Alice shares more about this project, how she has navigated the past two years as an artist, and who has been inspiring her recently.
Can you tell us a bit about your recent Big Walls & Windows Project?
The project was really good because it was an allowance of a lot of paint materials that I wouldn't normally have, as well as a huge space to make something bigger than I could in a uni studio. With that, I could make a series of things that were all related to the same idea.
When I did the proposal it was the first lockdown so I was thinking about that a lot. It was also based in King’s Cross, where a lot of people travel to from different parts of Europe, and lots of people work there. With working from home, everyone was missing so I thought I’d not ignore the pandemic and make the work about the people who weren’t in the space that used to be and look forward to the times when they’d be back.
“I thought I’d not ignore the pandemic and make the work about the people who weren’t in the space that used to be and look forward to the times when they’d be back.”
Your work ranges from painting to digital art. How do you navigate using different mediums?
I like using different mediums to learn how different processes work, such as screen printing, but recently I’ve been focusing more on animation and video. My Masters is in moving image artwork and I like making installations with several different mediums at the same time.
How has Covid affected your practice as a student and an artist?
Like all other art students and artists, at first, it was really limited. Especially the ability to make physical paintings and sculptures to go with my animations and videos because there was no access to workshops for a while. That was the main thing that affected my practice. Like a lot of people, during that time I could only really work at home on my computer and make proposals for what I wanted to make, but couldn’t.
Are there any artists that have inspired your work?
I’m really fascinated by Anicka Yi at the moment. I went to see her work at the Turbine Hall [at Tate Modern]. I like the way that her work is similarly about the times and the way that she works in between science and art is so fascinating.
“For me, [art is] just when somebody spends a lot of time and effort making something.”
What does it mean to be an artist?
For me, it’s just when somebody spends a lot of time and effort making something.
If you could star in any movie, what would it be?
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