Make Space artist Amy Bridges answers our probing questions…
Who are you and explain what you do in 100 words? Je suis artiste… I make illustrations that involve a lot of glitter and shiny paint because I want to create pieces that make you want to eat them. At the moment I am working on the subjects of fashion, identity, women and beauty. I think the work I create is normally for a visual pleasure as I’m very affected by colour. My next project is painting.
What’s your background? I studied fashion design and then textile print. After which and in between I have been a teacher, youth worker, bike mechanic and film extra. I haven’t yet joined the circus but I feel I’m one step closer.
What role does art have in society? It should be something that you didn’t know you were looking for that can shake up your way of thinking or give you inspiration even if it’s something you see on the street or in an art gallery, art should be everywhere to expand peoples minds. I think the arts in general can be a very powerful tool for society because it provides entertainment and ideas it captures beauty or humour or expression and when people can take something from it it’s normally a lasting impression. I believe the more people can be exposed to it the better society will be but it needs to be understood to have a greater effect. It’s a shame art is used as power, it reaches the highest and lowest points of wealth and gets messed up on the way.
What’s your favourite piece of art? Yves Klein blue because I want to jump into it and Degas ‘Brushing Hair’ because I got lightly winded when I first saw it.
Why art? Because I can be self-employed and I enjoy Monday morning
What superpower would you have and why? To be able to turn on the sight of a butterfly because they can see higher frequency colours beyond violet. I’ve always wondered how the colours would make you feel.
What talent do you yearn for? The ability to turn art into money
What is your dream project? To produce a comedy
Favourite Quote? Minds are like parachutes, they work better when open
Professionally, what’s your goal? To create work that is powerful. To cover everything in a layer of cinematic beauty so that even the bad stuff can be looked at in a good light or the beauty can be extracted from it.
What wouldn’t you do without? Shelter
What does Make Space mean to you? My sanity
Whats your favourite film? Where do we go from now? by Nadine Labaki
Whats your favourite book? The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
What is luxury to you? Food from Marks and Spencers, good quality socks and being an artist
