Mushroom Fantasies, Sugar Obsessions, and the Infinite Scroll: In My Studio 2024
It’s that time of year again—our 2023/24 residents have just moved out (cue the tiny violins). Before they packed up, we stepped into their studios to capture their wild, colourful, and creative worlds for our annual In My Studio series.
If you’re new here, In My Studio is our annual series where we dive into the creative chaos and bold projects our resident artists have poured their hearts into over the past year. This year’s High Road edition is already live on TikTok, and we’ve just started uploading the Haggerston episodes. Follow us to catch each new release as soon as it drops!
Through these intimate studio visits, you’ll get a glimpse of how each artist has shaped their environment to reflect who they are as individuals. Here are some examples of episodes already released:
EPISODE: MARTINA KOCIANOVA
"My obsession with mushrooms extends beyond the jewellery.' 'I always try to sell the whole mushroom fantasy, not just a jewellery piece by itself"
Martina Kocianova is a London-based jewellery artist and Gem-carver. Martina's inspiration originates from her mushroom foraging experiences with her mother in Slovakia and now exists as vibrant and conceptual jewellery pieces. She designs and crafts each piece using traditional jewellery techniques, such as stone setting, hand engraving and gem-carving.
@sarabandefoundation “My obsession with mushrooms stems beyond the jewellery” In My Studio S3 (Haggerston edition) with Martina Kocianova (@martikocianova_jewellery) Martina uses a diverse array of techniques in her craft, including gem carving, hand engraving, and stone setting. Her innovative design approach extends to incorporating mushroom mycelium into jewellery and it’s environment. From foraging mushrooms to cultivating mycelium, Martina intricately incorporates these elements into her creations, blurring the boundaries between nature and art. #fyp #sarabande #sarabandefoundation #artist #martinaspetlova
♬ original sound - Sarabande
EPISODE: SOPHIE LLOYD
"These characters of consumerism with elements of dark humour, I try and reflect on our relationship with the modern world"
In this episode, Sophie welcomes you in to her sugar obsessed studio, filled with works that are led by the idea of things we consume and how they can consume us.
These works appear as stained glass but are actually poured sugar and Isomalt (an engineered sugar). The mischievous materiality of sugar and lead is reflective of the addictive, sickly and enjoyable qualities of entertainment and media.
@sarabandefoundation "It reflects how we metaphorically are hunted and collected, our heads being the ultimate data source" In My Studio S3 with Sophie Lloyd Haggerston edition Sophie is led by the things we consume and how they consume us. From worlds set in daytime TV, to a media-munching centipedal figure in the midst of a fairground scam. Interested in the properties of entertainment being means to escape, numb, to find and lose yourself, Sophies figures appear as seemingly dimensional as one-liners. "In part my work re-imagines entertainment pre-cinema in a half-hearted rejection of modernism despite the themes of my work being quite particular to today." #fyp #sarabande #sarabandefoundation #artist #sophielloyd
♬ original sound - Sarabande
EPISODE: KOBY MARTIN
"It has to do with a memory that can't be expressed in words, so it's translated into an emotion"
In this episode of In My Studio you can get an insight into the mind of painter Koby Martin. Koby's paintings delve into the shared human journey, navigating the realms of emotions, memories and thoughts.
Koby addresses the intricacies of identity and social injustice. By using emotive figures and symbolic elements such as Adinkra symbols from Ghana, Koby captures the nuanced interplay of courage and sadness. For Koby the canvas is a space to convey the profound impact of significant moments.
@sarabandefoundation “The thin line between dreams and hallucination” In My Studio S3 with Koby Martin (@Kobmart) Haggerston edition Koby’s work is an introspective autobiographical exploration of his life, focusing on themes of family, migration, memory, and emotions. His work is shaped by his personal experience, a reflection of his Ghanian origins in relation to the Western and Contemporary practices of his craft. #fyp #sarabande #sarabandefoundation #painter #artist ♬ original sound - Sarabande
EPISODE: JO GROGAN
"My work really talks a lot about past and present and where historical ornament sits in contemporary society"
In this episode you get an insight to how sculptor and carver, Jo Grogan, combines her carving techniques with the past and memory, to create pieces such as 'Best Chair'. Her work is a celebration of craftsmanship and nature. Examining the space between the past and present to create unique pieces by moving traditional boundaries and exploring contemporary interpretations of historical themes.
@sarabandefoundation ‘I like to explore lots of different narratives and stories of people that sometimes history forgets.’ In My Studio S3 (Haggerston edition) with Jo Grogan Jo’s work is a celebration of craftsmanship and nature. Examining the space between the past and present, she creates unique pieces by moving traditional boundaries and exploring contemporary interpretations of historical themes. Trained as a fashion designer and woodcarver, she employs traditional techniques towards the design, application, and finish of every piece.Working directly across multiple materials from the drawing, modelling, and carving stages, each piece is painstakingly created, manipulated, and sculpted by hand. #fyp #sarabande #sarabandefoundation #artist ♬ original sound - Sarabande
EPISODE: BANITA MISTRY
"It's about focus, endurance, letting go of mistakes really"
Banita Mistry is a painter and sculptor. Her practice uses materials and techniques, often associated with adornment, to explore individual and shared experiences of virtual technologies.
In this episode of In My Studio, Banita explains that her current process process emulates her experiences of the ‘infinite scroll’ algorithm, looking at the physical and psychological effects of such an immersive and repetitive action.
@sarabandefoundation 'I'm a perfectionist, so this is a tough gig' In My Studio S3 (Haggerston edition) with Banita Mistry Banita Mistry is is a multidisciplinary artist currently exploring the infinite scroll, her work is an exploration of technology’s impact on our sense of identity, spirituality, environment, and community. In her 10 years of artistic practice, Banita’s craft has moved from jewellery to painting and sculpture, instigated by her recognition that the smartphone’s relationship with the body and its impact on human condition. #fyp #sarabande #sarabandefoundation #artist #banitamistry
♬ original sound - Sarabande
With our 2023/24 artists having completed their residencies, we’re thrilled to welcome our talented 2024/25 residents. Stay tuned for introductions to the new cohort!
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