Artists in Residence: Leo, Lowri & Lou

We asked our Artist in Residence to share with us their experience of their work whilst on residency at Hawkwood. Below are the reflections of a group of artists, Leo Kay, Lowri Evans, and Lou Robbins.

Leo Kay

Leo Kay: Credit Ludger Storcks

“Artists living within urban contexts throughout 2020 found themselves confined and isolated with very little access to nature or to a safe social context.

I found this opportunity a real gift. Artists living within urban contexts throughout 2020 found themselves confined and isolated with very little access to nature or to a safe social context. There was a high level of bodily trauma through this isolation and lack of access to contexts of creative embodied expression. Myself and all the artists that I invited to join me live within urban environments and experienced this. The Hawkwood opportunity was therefore profound and liberating. ‘Nature’ and ‘the countryside’ feels inaccessible both physically and psychologically to many people from urban contexts, economically disadvantaged, and especially to people of colour. This inaccessibility is often associated with earlier experiences of racism and classism within these contexts. This residency with a predominance of people of colour within such a beautiful and generous context is part of changing the demographic and giving space to those who feel marginalised and excluded from their own homes. This opportunity also forged deeper bonds between our group. I continue to mentor and coach Lou within her creative practice and myself and Lowri have begun a more grounded collaboration on both the cross-medium project that she is developing and a publication that I am currently engaged in producing. The opportunity to spend unpressurised creative time with each other was invaluable and as ever this sort of time is much more productive and nurturing of life than current societal obsessions with productivity and the pressures of our daily life.

Lowri Evans

Credit Mayra Azzi

“Incidentally, it led to new friendships/creative partnerships and gave me the confidence to apply for funding which I’ve now got, to get back into drawing.

The care was radical; unprecedented, allowing me to reposition myself and think about my value, my way of working. It was radical not having to produce or please; be not just ‘left to it’ but cared for with food, shelter, environment. How obvious that it is, yet how completely rare it is. Incidentally, it led to new friendships/creative partnerships and gave me the confidence to apply for funding which I’ve now got, to get back into drawing. Not that it was about that, but respect and space and care has consequences.

Lou Robbins

Louisa Robbins

“Having access to vast green space was incredibly nourishing, especially during a time where it feels like there is little opportunity for a change in pace or environment

We thought the grounds were beautiful, we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to walk around an orchard and sit by the fire. Having access to vast green space was incredibly nourishing, especially during a time where it feels like there is little opportunity for a change in pace or environment. The food was phenomenal and the staff was so so lovely. Typically, when I think of a place like this I would feel apprehensive of judgment or racism but I didn’t feel out of place at all. The rooms were lovely too.

 

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