Previous AA2A Artist

Charlotte Birch

AA2A host:
Year:
2007-08
Project summary:

My experience on the AA2A Scheme was extremely positive - It gave me an opportunity to expand my practice from drawing into sculpture. It provided an invaluable platform to explore new work through ceramics and slip. I have come away with an ever-expanding body of work and found this period invaluable to developing my concerns. These and the processes I have uncovered during the residency will continue to develop in the future.

Within my practice myth and symbolism have always been important elements of inspiration. I work closely with drawing, myth and the written word. When I began the residency I was interested in the connection between notions of innocence and guile in both historical and modern myths. Initially my work stemmed from a series of very detailed drawings and prints based on peregrine innocence and myth, some inspired by 18th century paintings, mythology and fairytales. During the residency these formed the blueprints for sculptures, which then developed into shrouds, mutating figures and hybrids. I produced a series of interchangeable sculptures, and fragile deities from paper thin clay slip and forms. It has been an insightful period of experimentation with ceramics, which I hope to continue.

'Disquiet Muses'
clay slip, paper and newspaper - 12 x 20cm