Interview: Jessica Morrison

Editorial Review

Jess Morrison explains the concept behind her unusual artwork in the new Pieces of Eight exhibition, Baked Not Fried.

Peacock fine silver, gold leaf, enamel

Editorial Review

CS: What was your attraction to metals and enameling?

JM: Well I kind of look at metal as a bit of a skeleton as its the base structure of what I'm going to be exploring (apart from the fact that I absolutely love precious metals!) and I see enameling as the flesh of the piece - it gives it the character, the colour and the final surface finish. It's cold but can also be warm so it's almost like an element that's been pre-existing.

CS: Your main theme is 'the beast' and you focus on wild animals. Where does that fascination come from?

JM: I think we all have a 'beastliness' about us and we get far too complicated but we're really just animals. I guess it's an extension of that but animals are such survivors - they're out there in the wild being instinctive and I also look at them as stunning and quirky creatures.

CS: How would you describe your work?

JM: Playful. An exploration of experimenting with techniques and casting, enameling and embellishing really, whether that's stones or gold leaf. I'm always about adding that extra layer so I suppose it's also about the line between the overly grotesque and the beautiful.

Emma McGowan

Check out the exhibition details for Baked Not Fried.