Vivienne will be opening her studio at 1 Smith Street, Bridgetown - during the Art Trail from 5 April - 20 April 2020. Opening times/days can be found in the Art Trail guide out mid February or on the website at that time.
How It All Began
It began when I was a small child. My grandmother was very creative. She would make dolls from dolly pegs with arms made from pipecleaners and endowed with tiny clothes. She made me my own clothes and decorated them in different ways, from cross stitch and shirring to applique patterns; from practical work clothes to dainty birthday party frocks.
What Inspires Your Work
I am inspired by the environment around me: plants, colours and shades, the rocks lying on the ground, the leaves on the path and their intricate patterns as they collect, and most of all, the earth itself.
My style is responsive to whatever is happening around me. The artist who inspired me first was Albert Namatjira. He deeply understood the significance of his cultural background. The expressive passion of his work came through to me as a ten-year-old and spoke beyond the difficulties of humanity's troubles, such as the impact of the nuclear tests at the time. Namatjira is and always will be a legend. I cannot hope to emulate his work, so I do not try. My own path is my own path. My style is my attempt to understand the influences of the past on the present, and possibly my hope for the future.
Walk Me Through Your Creative Process
From an initial idea, I mull over a concept in my head for a while, thinking about context. Then I start to make little collections and place them in patterns, perhaps in bowls or by themselves or even hanging. After that, I play with clay, making shapes or pots, and then I begin to draw before I fully bring the idea to life.
How Do You Navigate Creative Blocks?
I can get quite depressed if I have not made anything for a while. Then I start playing as described above, and suddenly, I find myself making and building again. Experimentation is the most important part.
A Memorable Reaction to Your Work
There was a strong reaction initially, and later on, to my dwellings back in the nineties. One man approached me when some pieces were on display in a cafeteria. The chef and manager of the cafeteria had asked me to exhibit my work there, and I initially felt quite confident about the placement. However, the man was visibly upset by the work. It had triggered memories of experiences he had gone through while working in South America.
This incident reminded me of my own initially negative responses to other artists' works and made me realize that what their work had done to me was to provoke deep thought about what they were projecting. Sometimes, even the artist may not fully recognize the depth of meaning in their work.
The Role of Art in Society
I believe art is essential to society. It is a way of envisioning who we are and what can be achieved. Sometimes it can just be fun for everyone, and that’s good too.
Evolving as an Artist
I think my art has evolved. It started with imaginings and has developed into a more practical approach. I now enjoy making things that are functionally useful. I have learned the value of perseverance. Do we ever fully perceive all the unconscious revelations held within our work? I am not sure.
Being a part of the Blackwood River Arts Trail helps me focus on the essential part of creativity. It gives me a chance to take a more outwardly expressive approach to my work by placing the result within the context of my surroundings – both the good and challenging aspects of those surroundings.
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