#permeableworlds

PW: So, who is the real Nicola Pearce? 

NP:  Good question, and something I ask myself often - I even made an artist book out of it, but even I didn’t get much of an answer.

PW: The quest for identity continues, then! But you’re quite busy on that search, aren't you? 

NP: Yup!  As well as practicing art I’m also a curator and a general organiser of artist group Synecdoche. Synecdoche is a network of artists who have all graduated from Drawing and Applied Arts at UWE, we hold regular crits for our members and exhibit our work together. We knew that when we graduated from our degree we might feel a kind of void - no studio, no structure, and (dare I say it) no deadlines! - so we tried fill that void by continuing the networks and support we had while we were studying. I’m also part of a community gardening group Bedminster Patchwork, we look after a few patches of land around Bedminster and Southville. Being part of the group is great, especially as I live in a flat with no outdoor space, so it’s nice to have some ownership of some outside spaces (even though they’re community spaces). Communities and being part of where you live are a big part of my art practice so it’s all cyclical - one thing feeds into the other which feeds into the other. 

PW: We agree there’s a certain kind of relief gained from working with the land. Are interactions between developed land and it’s occupants a component of your art practice as well? 

NP: Kinda yes, my practice is about places & people and seeing the city differently. I like to think the city is a drawing, just waiting for me to uncover it through photography, frottage (taking a rubbings from a surface) and collecting found objects. Through my work I want to sew seeds of investigation, exploration and the excitement of being a tourist in your own neighbourhood. I want to ask this question: if you look at where you live in a different way, what do you see?

PW: Well it sounds like you are well located in Bristol which, as we know, has it’s fair share of interesting and varied ways of seeing the world! So what or who inspires or influences you in your work?

NP:  I actually get a huge amount of fuel for my practice from going for a cycle or a walk around town - discovering new roads, looking at buildings from a different angle, all sorts! Most recently I’ve been taking loads of photos of scaffolding and building work for my practice so I get really excited when I see an interesting bit of scaffolding, interestingly one of the towers of the Clifton Suspension bridge is currently under scaffolding (each to their own, I hear you say).

Nicola Pearce, Interesting Things Around Munich Recently #1 (2015)

PW: We discreetly refer you to our previous remark. :) What else have you got in the pipeline apart from Permeable Worlds? What do the people need to know about?   

NP:  I’ve got loads of exciting things coming up: I’m part of Young Arnolfini a group of artists based at the Arnolfini and we’re in the middle of putting together a show which is excitingly going to be in Gallery 1 of the Arnolfini July 2nd - 5th, it’s called And then we pulled the words apart and is all about language and how we learn from each other - we’re going to be planting things, telling stories and dismantling a flag. I’ve also got some work into the Bath Open Prize 2015, am going to be opening my group’s studio for The Island’s Open event in September and Synecdoche might even be planning an art weekender in an exciting location for September too - so watch this space!

PW: It all sounds fantastic and we wish you luck and fun with them all. Many thanks for your time today. 

Nicola Pearce, Building Blocks (2015)