Mystery & Mantlepieces
There is a subtle enigma that marks each painting, print and sculptural piece created by Amy Douglas. A sense of the decorative and sublime set against unexpected darkness or humour allow for easy entry into a fantastic, folkloric realm. Contrasted paradisiacal and earthy references gently entice you to ask questions and feel deeper into Amy's work. I gathered a few of these questions and sat down with the magic-bound artist to find some answers.
Amy's inspirations
Images are taken from Amy's found images archive. Index below.
You create such beautiful and odd worlds with your work, where do these worlds come from?
My over active imagination and often observations of what is actually surrounding us.
Why do you create?
I was always drawing as a child and making things. I am aways needing to do and make something, to keep myself in the practice of art to be engaged in something. I love materials and process, always seeking for something to look and feel right for the story that is being told. I tend to attend to what is to hand and in the studio subverting objects painting wood. I like spending a lot of time on making things. I love different processes and like to research how things I like are made. I think it is important to make things to the best of my abilities to show people what I can do. I am a creative fidget.
There is a _ that marks each image and sculptural piece created by Amy Douglas. _ set against _ allow for easy entry into a mystical realm. Contrasted - and - gently entice you to ask questions and feel deeper into Amy's work. I gathered a few of these questions, and sat down with the magic-bound artist to find some answers.
What is the intention of your work?
Initially to ease a restless mind and expel some thoughts and ideas. The world is so extraordinary at the moment I like to think I capture some these fleeting moments with irony, humour and surprise.
You work in multiple mediums. What is the importance of exploring new mediums of creation?
I love the physicality of process and finding new art materials and applications I don’t know about. I have a very active imagination/brain and often get bored of one type of material and need to change my mental space by using and doing something else until it sits right. It keeps me actively engaged and hopefully then the viewer. If things don’t visually shift in an art practice, it can I think, be dull, a formula.
Your printed and painted works often include dogs, horses or deer. What is your reason for their inclusion?
My longheld fantasy of wanting to lead a bucolic life. Animals hold a lot of symbolism even in our modern times. They are still integral to our existence and their presence reminds us of our simple roots before urban life. They worked with us, helped us travel and fed us.
Do you consider your work to be political?
Occasionally, I have a total knee jerk reaction to the jerks in politics.
Do you have a spiritual practice or view of the world?
I like the serendipity of life and follow my gut feelings.
What do you like to listen to in your studio?
I like extraordinary stories of peoples lives, ghost, mysteries and murder.
Amy's found images index
header: strange eagle owl
group 1, l-r
1 59th Venice Bienniale
2 Amy in fur
3 Unknown origin
4 Unknown origin
5 Zuki in the garden
6 Odilion Redon
7 Ellen Terry cushion cover
8 Odilion Redon
9 I Wait by Julia Margaret Cameron
group 2, l-r
1 1950s halloween costumes
2 Woman with Pink Ribbons by Ammi Phillips
3 Tree arch - unknown origin
4 Intérieur aux aubergines by Henri Matisse
5 The Couple of Centaures by Odilion Redon
6 Adam & Eve - unknown origin
7 @christopherbrownlino
8 Centaur by Odlion Redon
9 Amy’s grandma on Brighton beach
group 3, l-r
1 A Pennysylvanian Dutch papercut Valentine made by Jacob Botz, c.1780
2 Harry Kellar show poster, 1900
3 White deer (pre being killed by police), Bootle, Merseyside
4 Lady Birley in the garden
5 Cerne Giant, Dorset
6 Bronislava Nijinska by Man Ray
7 Wet drug jar, Museum of London
8 The Twins by Janos Stekovics
9 Mermaid with Lyre, Soteno family, c.1950s
group 4, l-r
1 Ed Kluz
2 Unknown origin
3 Asafo Fante flag, Ghana 1940s
4 Miguel Angel Hernando
5 Audrey Hepburn at home
6 Flowers by Odilon Redon
7 Over the Town by Marc Chagall
8 May Chablis, palm reader extraordinaire and Clara Garnet, shamanic priestess of the highest calibre (Amy Douglas and Tina O’Clarey)
9 Portrait de Gauguin by Odilon Redon