It's been interesting to discover Jackie Mulner's work, relatively far into the journey I'm on with my work. I did have a slight moment of 'oh no! It looks like I've copied her work!' - but genuinely, I just happened to be looking at similar themes and using similar processes! It partly explains why I haven't looked extensively at lots of other artist's work during this unit. As soon as I felt reconciled with looking at my own experiences, I knew that the process through which I worked on this needed to be self contained. I didn't want to be distracted away from my own practice. I have found researching books, places and concepts hugely enriching and it has provided me with so much inspiration.
That said, I of course know and appreciate what it is to look at another artist's work and feel a connection to them. I really feel this in Jackie Mulner's work. Her large scale works in particular have made me ponder if this is a direction I can take my work in the future.
ARTIST STATEMENT (Jackie Mulder)
Since 2020 she has been working as an art photographer on her ongoing project 'Thought Trails'. With her unique approach to photography and mixed media art, she aims to challenge the viewer's perception of photography and push the boundaries of the medium. Her creative process always starts with a self-made photo or the combination of several photos, followed by very labour-intensive operations in which she deconstructs and reconstructs, leading to unique multi-layered works of art, mostly very tactile. She lets the thread or pen connect and separate as an abstraction for a life of memories, searching and thinking. She appreciates the element of chance and prefers not to have a preconceived idea of the final product. Her mind is free to roam and while she works, she is completely absorbed in her own creative space, similar to her childhood days of scribbling in her room. Her work is literally and figuratively 'healing'.
I was so interested to discover Jackie Milner via Instagram. Her personal history is central to her work and the aesthetic is beautiful. I'm particularly struck by the balance between fragility and boldness. There's something delicate about the different papers and surface she uses, as well as the muted photographs - but the accents of strength are apparent in the use of bold red stitch and the way in which the imagery is patched together with a feeling of resolution.
I get a real sense that materiality is central to her practice. Sometimes (personally) i can find the direction of digital art making alienating and uncomfortable. I need paper and paints to feel I'm showing who I am as an artist. That's just a personal thing though!
I worked into some of the photo transfer experiments I made the other week. I had thought the surface of the paper has been a bit too 'distressed' by the semi failed attempt but working over the top of it in pencil, drawing out some of the features seems to counter this.
As I'm drawing over the image of a 'soft' memory, I realise that the grey tones and lines I'm adding appear to make the image feel hostile in a way that the memory isn't.
I hadn't given any thought to which fragment I would work into to explore some of Mulner's techniques, but the thought of 'carrying' occurred to me. How we can experience life affirming joy, yet still be carrying with us the weight of pain. Not wanting to lay this on too heavy, I do connect with this idea. How living with this reality becomes part of life. It doesn't mean life is dominated by its clouds and of course, the seeking of restorative journeys is to counter precisely that.
May 2024:
As things have progressed over the last couple of months, I have been looking more at layering (in more detail in another post). Mixing papers, mixing marks, using photos, using print, free drawing. How best to hang or present these?
Pushing at the boundaries of what a landscape can look like. Different people will see different things. Thinking about the iplied, the suggested and above all, showing personal things but with space around it. Leaving things a bit open.
