Rosie Emerson Interview

Following the success of her new photo montage collection at our ‘In Darkness Blooms’ exhibition, we caught up with Rosie to discuss inspirations, models, and her love of all things beautiful

What initially steered you to be an artist?

Like many creatives, I am dyslexic, and wrestle with words. From an early age drawing, and now art more generally, has developed to be my preferred and most articulate method of communication. My father is a furniture maker and his mother a painter and I was lucky enough to grow up in a house where creativity is both respected and encouraged.

What do you find is the most rewarding part of being an artist?

The most rewarding moments for me as an artist are when the works materialise from ideas into reality. Watching the work unfold and develop before my eyes is truly exciting. I love it when the work turns out different from what I expected, it is the element of surprise which fuels my practice. If I know what the work is going to look like, I don’t bother making it. The absolute best bit is when the work exceeds my expectations, and when it stands up to scrutiny of time.

If any who are the main influences and inspiration in your work?

I love to visits galleries like the Wallace collection and the V&A. I am hugely attracted to beautiful things, especially when the decorative and the functional combine. Armour, furniture, ancient statues, jewelry, fashion photography, teacups, have all inspired pieces. These influences are evident in my newest works ‘Ornaments of Alchemy’ which were created in collaboration with jewelry designer Annoushka Ducas. Artists who have influenced me range from the visceral painters, Antoni Tapies, and Cy Twombly, to Pre Raphaelite Photographers and Japanese prints, in which I admire both their sureness of touch and the way the subjects often bathe in negative space.

Do you have expectations of what you hope your viewer takes from your work?

I hope people find my work non-prescriptive and open to interpretation. I make what I deem as unashamedly beautiful, and seductive, both through subject and medium but I do aim to provoke a response beyond this. My figures tend to be barren of any context, this I hope lures and allows the viewer to bring their own narrative the work.

Do you listen to music whilst you work, if so who and why?

Yes, but I can be absolutely anything. When I’m working I tend to dance and pace up and down my studio. Music is great for keeping the energy up, sometimes If I’ve stopped, I realize its because the music has, and have to put more on.

If you could have any 3 guests – past or present – to dinner, who would they be?

The Surrealist painter Leonora Carrington, and if she could bring a few of her fantastical animals and birds she created too, so much the better. I’d love to meet my grandmother, Keyna Emerson in her twenties – she was at the Slade, pre and post war, and I love to hear snippets of stories involving fancy dress balls at the Royal Albert Hall. Finally, I have just created a piece featuring fashion legend Virginia Bates, she would add more than a touch of glamour to any dinner party and is one of my newest favourite people.

How do you find your models?

Initially friends and friends of friends, I’d seek out dancers and performers, they tend to be comfortable in front of the camera. For my latest collaboration with Annoushka Ducas we highlighted strong looking women, ranging in profession and age, we chose 9 including singer Eliza Doolittle and actress Ophelia Lovibond, as well as models Daisy Lowe and Amber Le bon.

Where is your studio and how is it set up?

I live and work in an old peanut factory in Hackney in East London. It has the luxury of being both on the ground floor and having central heating, perfect for making work and moving it out easily. I share It with my partner Jackson a music producer, and two friends Vicky and Ed, as well as dogs Gata and Prince. My studio is relatively large and is perfect for black out shoots, as I only have one window. I’m surrounded by files of images, rolls of paper, a large plan chest, huge boards for drawing on, books, nice shaped sticks umbrellas. I’m a self confessed hoarder, and live in organised chaos.

Do you have a favourite place that you have traveled to in the world?

In terms of inspiration I’d say Florence, although Petra in Jordon was breathtaking. I am also travelling to New Zealand in December, which I’ve been assured is teeming with visual delights.

What do you have lined up for 2012 ?

I’m starting 2012 with a group show at the View Privee gallery in Singapore, which I’m currently making work for, the exhibition is themed around the year of dragon. I will also be completing a private commission, and will finish a series of works started earlier in the year, with photographer Becky Palmer, we photographed 6 Models on white backgrounds using a large format camera, and I’m very excited too print these using traditional darkroom techniques.

Thank you