Natalie Robinson, Draping Rivers
Hi Natalie, thank you for doing this interview with me. Out of all the works on show at your graduate showcase yours was one of my favourites. The way you present ideas with light and with the river being concealed are so beautifully presented and engaging, what inspired you to do this project?
The sun casting light from a modern glass building brought to life the City of London's lost river -the Walbrook- and the part it played in creating the dense financial powerhouse that exists today.
Image by Natalie Robinson
The way you draped the images so elegantly reflects the themes present, can you talk me through your process in generating work?
I used images -from documenting the reflection- to make 2 streams of experimental work: in the first, I examined printing the images onto textiles to echo the fluidity of the river -the location had been a centre for cloth, drapery etc in the medieval city; in the second, I used images to create maquettes for a model of a place in which to contemplate the exploitations -of the river and other resources- from which the City has grown. From this body of work, I was able to draw photographic and 3-dimensional installations for my Final Show.
What challenges did you face while putting this series together? Specifically how did Covid restrict you? Did it restrict you?
The body of work was made across all 3 lock-downs and Covid was instrumental to its making. I couldn't continue my original project and I found the reflection close to home -in the empty City- and used online resources to create the work.
Image by Natalie Robinson
QUICK FIRE
Can you summarise your time at LCC in 10 words or less?
Challenging, hard work, great people and plenty of fun.
For anyone thinking of doing MA Photography at LCC, what advice would you give them?
Engage with all of the different people you will come across, use all of the excellent knowledge and resources that are there for you and push your boundaries.
Night out or night in?
Both - long night.
What’s your favourite place to visit in your hometown?
A beach - in a storm.
What’s your favourite gallery in London?
Tate Modern - Fantastic Space
Roughly how many times have you sworn this year?
Lost count.
If you could change one thing about the art world, what would it be?
Silos - in other worlds too!
And finally what’s next? Any new projects? Events? Exhibitions? In the works?
Who knows -currently walking, looking and thinking.