Chloe Rose Taylor - May-June 26'
Artist Interview: Chloe Rose Taylor 26'
Wishbone
1,What does it mean to you to live a creative life alongside motherhood?
I always knew there would come a time where my art practice and parenting would align. It means everything to me that I’m able to make work and be at home with my babies. My girls keep me playful and I do my best to be open and observe their interests and excitements, then allow that to filter into my art making.
A cute example of this is when Frankie (my first-born) was about 6 months old she was obsessed with the gravel on our driveway. Every day she would bring handfuls of it into the house. One day I stopped and noticed how beautiful each piece actually was, the grey flecks of grey wacke stone smashed into uneven chunks. I had overlooked its beauty. I began to drill holes in pieces and attach them to shells to make grey wacke adorned shell neckpieces.
2, The flip side of allowing my girls to keep me open is that I am attempting to teach them to be open in their own lives. To live in the grey areas, to ignore the so called "rules" and to be open to beauty in all its interesting forms - to remain curious and look for ways to connect and enjoy the people in their lives.
Art is about connections and connection with people is key to true happiness.
3, Alongside your conceptual art practice, your jewellery has a unique visual language — the symbolic forms, movement, and bold scale create such a mesmerising presence. What does art-making and creating objects mean to you personally?
I like the anarchy of craft making, the power and presence of handmade objects. To self-govern within the moment of making. The beauty of discarded or overlooked materials infused with new life, new intrigue. I’m always asking questions around value and what makes an object precious. I honour my chosen materials by keeping the marks and scars of a previous life.
4, You mentioned recently enjoying experimenting with chemical reactions on metal surfaces, creating techniques and finishes that differ from your usual practice. With this opportunity to present work at Public Record and build a new collection, were there particular challenges or ideas you wanted to explore?
I wanted to push myself to try something new for this collection. I have been making my beaten shape earrings for a few years now. While the shapes are always changing, I have always finished the metal in the same way - pickling, sanding and cleaning up solder and using patina to colour when required.
5, This time when I fuse metal together with heat, I have just left whatever happens when the heat is applied. It’s almost like using glaze on ceramics, I don't know what will happen until the flame is applied, and each time I am getting new colours - golds, reds, greys, even touches of greens and purples - these appear before my eyes. The results are organic and very beautiful.
6, Who is your hero?
I am always inspired by people who have young children and are still making art! Specifically mothers. As someone who’s right in the thick of that process with a 3-year-old and a 18-month-old I know how hard it is to have the time and the head space to keep making work.
I completely understand anyone who chooses to take a break. My hero since art school is Aotearoa’s contemporary jeweller Lisa Walker who’s based in Pōneke. Her work is internationally renowned and she is asking questions around wearability and works which use non-traditional materials. Her style is fresh in form and in function but most importantly playful. I also love that she chooses not to over-explain her work, stating that it’s not for her to tell her audience what to think about her art.
Thanks Chloe, We enjoy your contemporary artforms very much xxx
