Clare Fisher's
Art is turning fashion's imagery on it's head
She Recently Spoke to pauliepaul
Clare studied at Derby University and now works full time as a Graphic Designer. In her spare time she works from her own attic studio producing mix media/college artworks, using tactics of appropriation and transformation to reflect the fashion and beauty industry and the impact it has on women.
"The exploitative nature of the fashion and beauty industry perpetuates a negative effect on a woman’s self-esteem, body image and perception of beauty."
Hi Clare your work is very unique could you describe the process for me?
Yes, I make dynamic, colleges from current fashion & beauty magazines, books and printed imagery, building up various layers of paper to create depth, then drawing, painting and colouring the image to change the context of its meaning, every now and then using small found objects and finally adding resin to permanently seal the layers of paper.
The exploitative nature of the fashion and beauty industry perpetuates a negative effect on a woman’s self-esteem, body image and perception of beauty. By using upward comparisons, women are constantly comparing themselves to standards of beauty that society shows to them.
As a graphic designer Photoshop is a tool I use daily. The use of Photoshop to edit faces of models and celebrities in women’s magazines that promote beauty products has become the norm. As such I feel this sends out a negative message to women that: to be beautiful is to be flawless.
These images were created with this in mind, using tactics of appropriation and transformation to create layers of collage which mimic the layers of self perception, and the masks we wear to cover our true selves. Changing these impossible images of beauty to convey a message of awareness concerning self image, animal testing, inclusion and exclusion
Yes, I make dynamic, colleges from current fashion & beauty magazines, books and printed imagery, building up various layers of paper to create depth, then drawing, painting and colouring the image to change the context of its meaning, every now and then using small found objects and finally adding resin to permanently seal the layers of paper.
The exploitative nature of the fashion and beauty industry perpetuates a negative effect on a woman’s self-esteem, body image and perception of beauty. By using upward comparisons, women are constantly comparing themselves to standards of beauty that society shows to them.
As a graphic designer Photoshop is a tool I use daily. The use of Photoshop to edit faces of models and celebrities in women’s magazines that promote beauty products has become the norm. As such I feel this sends out a negative message to women that: to be beautiful is to be flawless.
These images were created with this in mind, using tactics of appropriation and transformation to create layers of collage which mimic the layers of self perception, and the masks we wear to cover our true selves. Changing these impossible images of beauty to convey a message of awareness concerning self image, animal testing, inclusion and exclusion
claretwentymillion.com
Have you always been creative?
Yes! It’s the only thing I was ever any good at. From an early age I always like to draw. I remember getting my first set of Crayola Crayons at the age of five.
Early influences?
I can’t really remember any particular early influences. Though when I was studying art at school I was greatly influenced by Gustav Klimt. I also had a fascination with magazines back then, things like “Smash Hits” “Just Seventeen” (arrrrrh) that’s when I was a gullable kid! I use to rip out the faces and bastardize them in my sketch books, a bit like I’m doing now.
And now?
Pretty much everything, but if I had to pick... it would be .....Mira Schendel, Hannah Höch, Guerrilla girls, Barbara Kruger, Gee Vaucher and bit of Bauhaus……I love Graffiti art especially Ella and Pitr huge illustrative graffiti pieces, Etam Cru epic street-art murals…. and German graffiti artist Zebrating using railings and public spaces. The list is endless really…..oh an Sally Hewett's Embroidered body parts (AMAZING) and Gabriel Moreno's beautiful illustrations......
Someone who inspired you?
Again I find this a difficult question. I think in the 90’s the YBA’s (Young British Artists) were a great influence. The rebelliousness of it all…..the mocking of the art establishment. It all came into line with the music at the time… mainly I was listening to house music, and the DIY culture became a huge influence.
Can you remember an early piece you did that made you think ‘Wow’ I like this… I suppose a turning point that encouraged you to continue creating your art?
Well I ended up becoming a graphic design full time as I mentioned…you need to pay the bills. Being stuck on the computer all day can be a bit soul destroying. So I always did a bit of painting or sketching in my spare time, nothing of any note just something to feel physically creative in some way.
Then about five or six years ago a couple of friends, artists…ended up seeing some of the collage I’d started doing and encouraged me to create more. When I’d got enough pieces they gave me a small exhibition at “Artsmith”; the gallery they were running in Derby. So basically things just snowballed from there.
As far as being creative goes, I find a lot of artist have other outlets - Jah Wobble & his paintings for example - does your art have a creative rival?
The only creative rival I would say is the Graphic Design I do on a day-to-day basis. I fell out of love with it for a while, it didn’t feel creative enough, but recently people have asked me to help them in more creative projects that involve my graphic skill set and I’m slowly falling back in love with it.
claretwentymillion.com
You mentioned that you studied graphic design did you go to art college as well?
I did A’level Fine Art and A’level Design and Technology in High School, then moved on to a (BETEC) Art & Design course at Blacon Collage in Chester, then finally do a BA hons Degree at Derby University.
Were you born in Derby?
I was born in Chester. My family are mainly from the North West. I moved to Derby to do my degree and ended up staying. I’ve met some of the most lovely, inclusive, interesting and crazy people in the shire. Why would I move?
What’s the art scene like do you feel part of a creative community?
The art scene in Derbyshire its self is very rural, traditional… so to speak…. Although Derby is becoming more adventurous. Artists are more inclined towards the DIY approach… setting up pop-up exhibitions or setting up independent gallery spaces etc etc… giving a bigger scope to the type of work that’s shown.
I’m also part of a group called “Collagistes Collective”…. They organise group shows all over the country…but mainly in and around the London area. I’ve been very lucky to be apart of shows in Brixton, Hoxton, St Pancras (The Crypt Gallery) and The Crow Nest Gallery organised by Artistic-UK. The people involved in all these shows are incredibly encouraging and I’ve met some wonderful people. So you could say yes! I do feel like I’m part of a creative community.
What’s next for you are you constantly working on your art?
Yes! Constantly working on my art is correct. It’s now become an addiction, I’m constantly thinking of what to do next and how to do it…. Basically doing collage art keeps me out of trouble.
Thanks so much Clare - best pp x
I did A’level Fine Art and A’level Design and Technology in High School, then moved on to a (BETEC) Art & Design course at Blacon Collage in Chester, then finally do a BA hons Degree at Derby University.
Were you born in Derby?
I was born in Chester. My family are mainly from the North West. I moved to Derby to do my degree and ended up staying. I’ve met some of the most lovely, inclusive, interesting and crazy people in the shire. Why would I move?
What’s the art scene like do you feel part of a creative community?
The art scene in Derbyshire its self is very rural, traditional… so to speak…. Although Derby is becoming more adventurous. Artists are more inclined towards the DIY approach… setting up pop-up exhibitions or setting up independent gallery spaces etc etc… giving a bigger scope to the type of work that’s shown.
I’m also part of a group called “Collagistes Collective”…. They organise group shows all over the country…but mainly in and around the London area. I’ve been very lucky to be apart of shows in Brixton, Hoxton, St Pancras (The Crypt Gallery) and The Crow Nest Gallery organised by Artistic-UK. The people involved in all these shows are incredibly encouraging and I’ve met some wonderful people. So you could say yes! I do feel like I’m part of a creative community.
What’s next for you are you constantly working on your art?
Yes! Constantly working on my art is correct. It’s now become an addiction, I’m constantly thinking of what to do next and how to do it…. Basically doing collage art keeps me out of trouble.
Thanks so much Clare - best pp x
claretwentymillion.com
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