Elizabeth Babyn: Cosmic Fishnet | Richard Sewell: wherelocal (too)
Don't miss the Q & A with both artists THIS SUNDAY December 1st @ 2pm!
(This is a re-post of Elizabeth's visit as it seems to have disappeared from the blog.
You can revisit studio Richard's here.)
a visit with Elizabeth Babyn
DESCRIBE YOUR SUBJECT MATTER FOR THIS NEW BODY OF WORK.
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For the past several years I have
been intrigued by the inter-relationship between sacred geometry and Fibonacci’s
number sequences. When I learned
that these sequences were tied to the golden mean ratio, I investigated further
and found out that these sequences further demonstrate that all things in
nature and indeed the universe begin with a single point and their very
proportions are constantly being repeated everywhere and in everything.
While researching I also stumbled
upon a beautiful design that was coined the ‘Cosmic Fishnet’, the author
claimed that this motif held within it each and every possible sacred geometry
design in existence. Unfortunately, I was rather careless with my notes and as
a result haven’t been unable to locate the source of the ‘Cosmic Fishnet’ term,
but regardless I liked the name and what it implied and decided that I would incorporate
this design along with the Fibonacci number sequences as a symbolic metaphor
for our universal connection to all things.
My multilayered process acts as a
vehicle to deliberately reveal,
hide, or lose bits of process, which in turn serve as symbolic metaphors
for the seen, the unseen, the known and the unknowable.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST RISK THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN IN YOUR WORK?
I am probably taking the biggest risk
right now with my current body of work.
Previously, I had been known for my colourful acrylic paintings on
canvas, now I am working with all sorts of textile materials, the colours are much
quieter, I am working in layers incorporating spiritual symbolic metaphors and
there is an apparent shift towards installation art. There are certainly challenges to entering new territory,
but the risks are well worth it.
WHAT ARTISTS WOULD YOUR WORK MOST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH?
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WHAT DOES YOUR STUDIO SPACE MEAN TO YOU?
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Everything!
It is so liberating to
have a designated space to engage in creative work in the manner that I
envision. I could not possibly work
in the way that I currently work if I had to work at home as I once did in the
past. I am fortunate that my space is large and I use every inch of it. I set
up different workstations for each of the processes that my current body of work
requires and then move from station to station as needed, this movement keeps
me from loosing my objectivity and allows me to percolate more ideas for the
pieces that are at rest.
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DO YOU EVOKE A PERSONAL HISTORY INTO YOUR PRACTICE?
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My artwork is a reflection of what I
hold most dear and true to me.
It is a continuum of my spiritual or
meditative practice, so yes in that sense I certainly do.
THANKS FOR THE VISIT ELIZABETH!
Elizabeth's new work
can be seen at Loop Gallery November 9th - December 1st.
