Interview: Jessica Morrison

Editorial

JM: Well I kind of look at metal as a bit of a skeleton as its the base structure of what I'm going to be exploring (apart from the fact that I absolutely love precious metals!) and I see enameling as the flesh of the piece - it gives it the character, the colour and the final surface finish. It's cold but can also be warm so it's almost like an element that's been pre-existing.

CS: Your main theme is 'the beast' and you focus on wild animals. Where does that fascination come from?

JM: I think we all have a 'beastliness' about us and we get far too complicated but we're really just animals. I guess it's an extension of that but animals are such survivors - they're out there in the wild being instinctive and I also look at them as stunning and quirky creatures.

CS: How would you describe your work?

JM: Playful. An exploration of experimenting with techniques and casting, enameling and embellishing really, whether that's stones or gold leaf. I'm always about adding that extra layer so I suppose it's also about the line between the overly grotesque and the beautiful.

Emma McGowan

Check out the exhibition details for Baked Not Fried.