Heather Bews-Ivins, 24-year-old artist from Dundee, Scotland, graduated from studying Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone
Work Statement
There is nothing complex about any of this. My art simply is. I’m not trying to be pretentious.
It is the shadow on my wall at 5am, a building in the near distance or how I hang my washing.
It’s about documenting experiences, simplicity, and individuality. I feel like I have so much to say about my art, but it doesn’t really matter. I care about how the art fulfils you because that fulfils me. I get to share my wonderful experiences by painting the life I observe. That is true.
I convey that there isn’t anything to it but there will always be colour, line, shape, movement, stillness, texture throughout my work and how every one of those are unique to me. If you look closely, what inspires me is really all around you. I don’t force my work and allow ideas to simply present themselves to me. I used to believe that made me a lazy artist, not really working for it…but what am I working for? I get to recognise the beauty in everything when I’m patient. It comes down to the fact I’m not stuck for inspiration at all.
Everything is temporary but always ubiquitous.
I like to document through paintings, interior, film/photography, clothing, and graphics because that is simply what I enjoy. I am inspired by time-based art because it sparks conversations, something I believe is worth more than the piece itself. I like my art to be viewed with a bit of time, like how the inspiration approaches me. For my Degree Show in 2023, I created a living environment where these paintings had a home, alongside recycled/DIY furniture, interactive elements, as well as stylish aspects that I love such as roller-skating, spray-painting, clothes, and open space. The point of this room was to allow people to stop for as long as they need - to sit, to play or to do nothing.
Did you know that on average a person will spend between 15-30 seconds gendering at a piece before they move on? How could I expect anyone to take in what I was trying to put across in less than 30 seconds. The whole point is to slow down.
Why?
I experienced trauma at the start of university, making it difficult for me to feel comfortable and conversate within the four years of it. I was lost and angry with life for a bit, so it made sense to finish uni in comfort.
I am happier now.