Students

Richard Taylor catches up with artist Rebecca Strain as she uses her isolation from developed networks to confront a writing practice that compliments the enduring nature of her visual production.

Practice requires refection in order to improve

'The very irreversible nature [of making marks on paper] means that we are emotionally moved when we achieve something on it. It constantly challenges us to come up with fresh forms, which feed into activities such as writing, painting, poetry, music, dance and the martial arts. It is the possibility of (irrevocable) failure that lies behind all this creative energy. At the same time, the basis of the artistic mind is the overcoming of human error through strenuous practice and training.' K.Hara, White, 2010, Lars Muller Publishers, Baden, Switzerland.

Rebecca is currently studying a part time MA at Bournemouth Arts University College and has a studio in Poole. She works with paper to approach elements of process and engagement in her practice. She is also currently maintaining a Project blog 'my thoughts at 10pm every evening' on Artists talking to develop her writing during studies.

"I chose a part time MA as my work suits the slower pace. My work is my time and to have fitted my studies in to one year would have eradicated this aspect that holds fast on my practice... I'm happier working on projects knowing I can endure them."

Rebecca goes on to explain how she has difficulties with writing, yet as doing an MA has so much writing involved, there had to be a way of dealing with this. "The Internet allows you to choose how you present yourself as an artist, it gives you the tools, if you like, to become someone or something else. Whilst I am using the blog as a sort of diary I want it to develop in to something more critical. But the medium it stands upon, in the meantime, procures the ability to deal with the difficulties I have as a writer... I can really confront the writing process".

Rebecca spent ten years in West Yorkshire building networks and post-2004 she was a studio holder with East Street Arts in Leeds: "I miss the conversations and the dialogue being in Poole, and it is very difficult to get paid work as an artist down here. I do keep in touch with professional contacts in the North but earning very little money whilst studying dislocates me from them too."

Perhaps this is why Rebecca has committed to the repeated act of writing every day. Not only is she challenging the creative process in a different way - likening the writing process sitting at her computer each evening to the arriving at her studio, pottering and then eventually making something out of the situation - but she is also speaking to someone, maybe herself or perhaps to one or two of the artists she has met along the way who inspired her to continue as a professional.

Back to the quote then from Kenya Hara's publication 'White', recommended by Rebecca's tutor, explores the space on the page and the concepts of completion and practice within something achievable in time. But how is this transformed in to a writing practice that exists virtually? Another recommendation has been the film 'Funny Game' that - whilst displaying horrific murder and absurdity first off - deals with cyclicality in thought: "The reason I was recommended this film only became apparent after I had sat down and written about the experience..."

Writing is proving to be another outlet that requires the same form of cyclicality. But is blogging to be a form too of 'strenuous practice and training' fitted in to a limit of 750 words per post?

Find out more as the interview progresses on Rebecca's Artists talking blog:
my thoughts at 10pm every evening »

Richard Taylor

Richard is an artist/writer living in Edinburgh and online editor on behalf of a-n The Artists Information Company, for the Degrees unedited and Students community sites.

www.rich-taylor.co.uk

First published: a-n.co.uk March 2011