Permanence vs Temporary
Words: Tous Mag | Image Credits: © Gráinne Nagle |
Colour and shape have long been thought to impact mood and emotions. The Colour Theory is both the science and art of using colour and how one might perceive it. We seem to be fascinated by the meaning of colour, from the mood rings you might have bought when you were an early adolescent - which tells you how you’re feeling based on the colour that the jewellery turns on your finger - to the widely-known notion that fast food eateries use red in their branding to compel us to splurge as it’s a colour that evokes hunger. As far as shapes are concerned, Geometrics are considered to convey emotions such as happiness and anger. For example, curved contours may stimulate a positive feeling whereas jagged or sharp edges may spark a negative response. The role that both play within our society, or simply, on paper is an interesting idea and one that artist & designer Gráinne Nagle - of Nounua - looks closely at, through her art practice.
There’s never just one sole perspective in life, any given entity might be perceived to have an outcome that’s contradictory to the next. In government you have the “aye” vs the “nay”: with film critics you have those that enjoyed and are complimentary vs those that were disappointed and pick it apart: with story telling you have one side of events vs a different recount. Gráinne plays with the concept of perspective, often creating pieces that can be viewed in multiple ways or sometimes rearranging works to form new pieces of art. This investigative artist also experiments with the idea of permanence and the temporary, collage comprising of glued-in-place shapes and arrangements or assemblage pieces being free from a permanent fixture. With parts of the composition often raised or 3D, the works demonstrate the many possibilities and physicality - or form - of paper.
Driven by colour and pattern, Gráinne uses paper as a malleable tool in which to manipulate an outcome. Her pieces clash and contrast in the most striking, aesthetically pleasing way. It’s obvious, to us, that this is an artist who has spent countless hours perfecting her craft, but, it’s her spontaneity and playfulness that makes her work truly hypnotising.
To learn more about the artist read the interview, below!
Tous Mag: Where’s home to you and what do you like the most about living there?
Gráinne Nagle: Home to me is just outside a small village in north county Cork, Ireland, which is where I'm originally from. I moved back here a few years ago after living in Barcelona for almost 10 years. To be honest, at first, I wasn't sure if I had made the right decision to move back home. It was the complete opposite of what I had gotten used to which was busy city life and, of course, sunshine. But now, I couldn't imagine myself being back in a city. I love the quietness of the countryside and being able to hear the wildlife outside. It's definitely so much more calming living in a place like this.
Tous Mag: What does an average day look like for you?
Gráinne Nagle: I like to go out for a walk first thing in the morning, weather permitting. I use it as a quiet time away from everything. It's a form of meditation, for me, and it gives me some head space before I start working. The morning time is my most productive time of the day in terms of creating, so, I try and get the more creative stuff done then. The rest of the day is then used for more practical things like planning, checking emails or checking in on Instagram etc. I've noticed, though, as soon as I start doing things like checking Instagram I can get easily distracted from what I'm supposed to be doing, so, I have to be careful of going down the rabbit hole! Other times, I end up completely avoiding social media, I still haven't quite figured out how to balance it.
Tous Mag: Could you tell us a little about your art background?
Gráinne Nagle: I originally studied fine art (painting) years ago but, like a lot of students, once I got to the end of my degree I wasn't sure what to do. I got sucked into the fear of being a struggling artist and decided to get a 'real' job. Fortunately, the job I got was creative. I worked for a while as a display artist in a large department store. After that, I actually went back to college to study graphic design and then worked as a graphic designer. It was while I was in Barcelona, working as a designer, that I started to feel like I wanted to create work that meant more to me, personally, rather than simply making work just to get paid. I found myself questioning the fact that I was sitting in front of a computer all day every day and eventually made the decision to leave my job and make a commitment to making work I enjoyed.
Tous Mag: Do you have a favourite gallery you like to visit?
Gráinne Nagle: I don't visit galleries as often as I, probably, should. One of my favourite local galleries, which I like to visit, is the Glucksman gallery, located on the UCC campus in Cork city. The building itself is a work of art and is a pleasure to visit, particularly in Autumn, as it is set in-between the trees. Inside the gallery, there are huge windows which allows lots of natural light in. Because of the way the building is angled, you can get a sense of actually being amongst the trees. There’s also a café downstairs which looks on to the grounds outside. It's a great experience, regardless of what exhibition may be on.
Tous Mag: How would you describe your work?
Gráinne Nagle: I like to think of my work as an exploration or a, sort of, investigation into the possibilities of shape and colour. I never really think of a piece in isolation, in my head it's always a part of something else or has the potential to lead to something/somewhere else.
Tous Mag: Do you pre-plan or improvise in the moment?
Gráinne Nagle: There used to be a time where I would automatically work on the computer, first, as I’d gotten so used to it because of my job. I rarely use the computer for creating, anymore, unless I have to. I enjoy the process much more when the work is spontaneous and not laboured over for hours. I guess it depends on the type of project I'm working on as well, though, obviously some things do have to be planned if designs need to be scaled or reproduced etc. If I'm making a screen print, for example, planning is an integral part of the process whereas a collage can be made instantaneously.
Tous Mag: Your pieces are so colour oriented, does this filter through to your personal life?
Gráinne Nagle: Yes, I would definitely say I'm colour driven in my personal life. I may not wear head to toe bright colours every day, for example, but there always definitely has to be a pop of colour in there somewhere. Colour can be very powerful in how it can affect your mood or how you’re feeling, so I do put thought into how I use it. Even just a bunch of colourful flowers can brighten up any room. I think, overall, colour is a positive thing and everyone could do with some colour in their lives!
Tous Mag: Has your style developed over time or stayed fairly consistent?
Gráinne Nagle: I think the style of my work has fundamentally stayed the same although last year, and some of this year, I became less focused on shapes themselves and more interested in the idea of 'composition' or 'arrangements'. I wanted to explore the idea of a shape not dictating the outcome of the piece. However, I think I've now reached the stage where I want to reintroduce different shapes back into my work.
Tous Mag: Are there any mediums you haven't yet explored, that you'd like to?
Gráinne Nagle: I've done some experimenting with textiles before but I'd really like to do more. It just makes sense to me that my work would translate well into that medium. In general, though, I really like the idea of taking something that's flat and making it into something someone can touch and feel, not just something to look at. I guess making something that's functional is what I'm trying to say, really, whether that be something you can wear or use at home.
Tous Mag: What keeps you feeling motivated and creative each day?
Gráinne Nagle: Just the thought of creating something new keeps me motivated every day. I couldn't imagine going back to a job where I couldn't be creative. I also find being in nature really helps if I have a creative block, or even just creating something that's the complete opposite to what I would normally create can also help get the creative juices flowing again. It's OK to not feel creative, sometimes, you can't force it.