Style & Design
Originally published on Wednesday, 17th September 2008
Artist Interview: Keira Rathbone
Apart from hosting some of the hottest fashion designers, On|Off also supports new creative talent in art and design from around the world, bringing them all together at London Fashion Week. UJ talks to some of the artists involved this season.
Describe your work and how you have used it to create a piece for On/Off.
I bought a beautiful orange SilverReed 100 from a charity shop about 5 years ago. Not knowing what to write, but still wanting to use the typewriter, I started to draw with it instead. Using the appropriate letter, number or symbol for what I'm drawing, I build up a picture. Mainly I create portraits, a technique I call Typeface; I have also made studies of scenes including a back garden, a pier and an oven. I enjoy the challenge of new subject areas.
For On|Off September 2008 I have produced a collection of new Typefaces. The subject matter for these is interesting/attractive faces I am particularly drawn to facial expressions that seem to reveal (or hide) emotions and I have captured this with my typings onto paper, fabric and aluminium sheet.
I will be producing typewriter art LIVE during On|Off around the venue where onlookers can watch how I make my studies in type.
What is inspiring you at the moment?
The seas, rocks and trees of the Purbecks in Dorset are always great inspiration for me camping out there as often as possible. I listen to a lot of music which also keeps me inspired. Style magazines get passed my way from my grandmother (who's use of typewriter once irritated me profusely - I now own that very typewriter); usually I remove and keep the fashion pages as they appeal to me one or two of these I have used as source material for the new Typeface collection.
What do you love about London and what are you most looking forward to during Fashion Week?
I can't put my finger on what it is about London (there's too many things!) but I always feel inspired by walking around the place perhaps it's the weird and wonderful facial expressions. I am excited at the prospect of being involved in London-based projects.
I'm really looking forward to showing my unusual art form to a whole new audience at On|Off, some of their faces may appear in my next exhibition.
How do you think fashion and art relate?
Fashion is art to me. Both fashion and art are about constantly coming up with new ideas, pushing the boundaries and developing them and showing everyone that what you're doing is exciting and deserves attention.
They both have a culture of practioners inspiring and helping each other. This social/community aspect is something which I really value.
If your work could be translated into something wearable, what would it be and why?
This is a topical subject for me, because for the charity auction for On/Off I was asked to translate my work onto a bag, which will be auctioned. This is the first such collaboration and I am pleased to say it was successful. The bag was made up of quilted panels, which enabled me to break down the work into individual images for each panel.
I have produced work on many mediums and clothing seems a natural progression. I'm looking forward to exploring the possibilities.
What can we expect to see from you in the future?
My continuing interest in reading what's mapped in people's faces isdeveloping into a series of large oil paintings of characters. My typewriter work has informed my awareness of tone and allowed me to develop portraiture; this is feeding back into my painting.
Your career highlight so far?
I was part of a group show which travelled to four European cities. It was great to present my work with other young artists.
If you could describe Urban Junkies through your art, what would it look like?
Urban Junkies to me conjures up a rather vivid image, exactly the kind of character face I love to depict. Or maybe I'm reading the name too literally?
