As a continuation in the Interview Series, we interviewed Abi as part of our proposal to offer insight into how practicing artists were coping with these unprecedented times. She has provided us with a window into her current practice and how she has repositioned with lockdown restrictions.

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1- Who are you? Introduce yourself

I am an emerging artist working across sculpture and installation. I graduated from Bath School of Art and Design in 2019 having studied BA (hons) Fine Art. I currently live and work in the South West.

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2- What is your artistic practice?- What drove you to work as you are now? How has this been impacted by lockdown restrictions and the pandemic?

My practice centralises around the idea of objects produced through the collective use of play, materiality and touch. The forms of these sculptures are an unconscious translation of existing objects. Together these objects produce a site specific installation.

In producing these sculptures I use such processes as casting and woodwork. My favourite materials being plaster and mdf. The size of these works are decided by the space they are made in. Through Lockdown I had to move back to my family home in North Yorkshire. The space available to me was a table set up in my room and later on a makeshift studio in the garage. Due to the limited amount of space the works I made during lockdown are table sized – this meaning that they were no bigger than 60cm squared. In documenting my sculptures and installations I managed to find a local empty children’s lido as a nondescript space for the work to exist in.

In moving home I moved away from my artist community and found this a really isolating experience with no galleries, art shops or contemporary artists in the area. I decided to start a series of group critiques running through zoom and these were a great way to reconnect, network, receive immediate feedback and support.

Lockdown impacted me in the way that it caused me to need to move home, but it also acted as a break to have the time to reassess my practice and make new work. Coming out of this lockdown I feel in much more stable and realised point in my practice. I have a sense of momentum to keep making work and making time to do this with or without a studio.

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3- What are you currently working on? (virtual exhibitions, creative movements, collaborative projects, maintaining production of work)

I currently have a work ‘Playful Structures’ In Dance First Think Later at General Practice in Lincoln, a show of work made during lockdown. An online solo show is currently in the process of been made with BigRat Studio.

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4- What is next? – How, if at all, has this pandemic inspired further progression?

With this sense of momentum that has reignited my practice I want to push forward my physical work but I also want to take time to do some more research into play and education. I also have been awarded the Emerge Residency at Bath School of Art and Design, which is a 6 month studio residency as an alumni to start in Autumn.

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5- Where can we find you? Extra projects you are working on, social media, website, exhibitions you will be in, etc.

Website: www.abicharlesworth.co.uk

Instagram: @a.chfa

Shows:
DANCE FIRST THINK LATER, General Practice, Lincoln.
Online show at BigRat.studio Opening September 3rd. More info at https://bigrat.studio/about-6- shows/