Emilie-Colette Begg
When being forced to take Art in Year 9, I would always say I wasn’ t very good at it. But as I grew throughout the next five years, I found various mediums which suited me and allowed me to express myself. The Art room now is the place where I spend most of my time and where, covered in paint or clay, I can now appreciate the beauty and importance of my art, whether realism or otherwise.
My art is heavily influenced by memories. As we leave childhood behind, the nostalgia carries us into adulthood and this was my expression of this experience. I focused specifically on how memories are presented, the way nostalgia feels, and memory loss. I’ m a tactile person, in an exhibition immediately attracted to the works which I can touch, move around and immerse myself in, so this is reflected in my work. I want my exhibition to be a playground and a place where each individual can reflect, explore and interpret.
My method of working is highly experimental, working without a clear vision or plan. I find out with everyone around me what the product will be, and am led by the emotions I want to evoke and the concept rather than the concrete. A great example of this is my video projection installation, which I created sporadically over many months by making many small, random pieces and only afterwards realising they work together, then added the videos later as I had filmed them while on holiday, so in the end the project effectively displays the ways my mind works.