Artist Interview - Riba Begum

Description of Work 

We have chosen three pieces of the artists work. These pieces are formed of a figurative acrylic paintings on board involving the main motif of magpies amongst other things personal to the artist. 

How it links to Ethereal 

These magpie painting were pieces that I asked to be in the exhibition as I think they link to a darker side of ethereal and also because we did not have any realistic paintings within the show. They have connotations of mystery which is reflected within the colours and the symbol of the magpie. The magpies have darker connotations that link to the fantasy/ fairytale idea that we have explored in relation to our theme of ethereal.
 

Interview

Bianca interviewed Riba Begum about her artwork for the exhibition.

 

What its about ?

Superstition and things of the like, she said it came across to others as superstition and to a degree that was what it was about but it also has a more personal meaning to it as well (that bit she kept to herself). Lastly she added that it was very much open to interpretation about what it meant and can fit into any situation where we could see it fitting.  The artworks of Fred Tomaselli and Beatriz Milhazes has inspired me the most in creating the work that I have done. Layering is key in my work. My work has changed a lot since level 4 as they are more personal now and have more meaning to me. The works are more narrative than paintings. They are ambiguous pieces. I have made them in a way to which only I know what they truly mean but are open to interpretation to the viewer. The magpies are the main features in the pieces and the quote comes after. I am a very superstious person when it comes to magpies and have based my work on this superstition and the events that have taken place in my life. I am still at a stage where I am experimenting with size, shapes, materials and colour.

The methods...

She said she didn't have one, it all just came as a natural process and progression as her work developed, although she was told to draw things out first it never clicked when it was like that, she said when she tried to do it that way it didn't come out as she saw it and she ended up throwing them away, but when she just painted it was what she had in her head for it to be.  The pieces were made with acrylic paint on wooden board.