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| LIFE IS DELICIOUS With Georgie Mattingley Presented By Kaliopy |
We take a moment to speak with the controversial artist Georgie Mattingley, in her final months of graduating art school, Mattingley has
already held a solo exhibition and has stired some very interesting responses throughout her audience and the media.
But Georgie feels her works are being misinterpreted, so who best to tell us what "Life Is Delicious" theme is really about, other than the true
artist herself.
Life Is Delicious displays an energetic and invigorating body of works investigating the tension between spirituality and the modern lifestyle.
Georgie Mattingley's work - colourful, playful and sometimes absurd - radiates a quirky sense of humour,
allowing us to experience the overwhelming beauty within the mundane process of eating and consuming in our everyday lives.
Soon to graduate from art school, Georgie Mattingley debuts with her first solo exhibition in the public forum, promising a strong and
energetic artistic development for the future. - "Kingston Arts Centre Gallery (KACG)"
already held a solo exhibition and has stired some very interesting responses throughout her audience and the media.
But Georgie feels her works are being misinterpreted, so who best to tell us what "Life Is Delicious" theme is really about, other than the true
artist herself.
Life Is Delicious displays an energetic and invigorating body of works investigating the tension between spirituality and the modern lifestyle.
Georgie Mattingley's work - colourful, playful and sometimes absurd - radiates a quirky sense of humour,
allowing us to experience the overwhelming beauty within the mundane process of eating and consuming in our everyday lives.
Soon to graduate from art school, Georgie Mattingley debuts with her first solo exhibition in the public forum, promising a strong and
energetic artistic development for the future. - "Kingston Arts Centre Gallery (KACG)"
Kaliopy: There has been a lot of controversy with your works, how have
you managed to cope with all the media attention?
Georgie Mattingly: The only difficulty has been feeling that, at times, my work is misinterpreted. A lot of the media attention focused on
the controversy of feces as an artistic medium – something which is not, I believe, the main focus in my work. feces has in fact been
used in ground-breaking and profound ways, by many artists before me. The relationship between feces and the art world has been well
established for some decades. I just hope that any information published about my work focuses on controversy for the right reasons. Is
it avant-garde that I use feces in my work? No. What is more important, I believe, is how I have used my feces for art and why.
you managed to cope with all the media attention?
Georgie Mattingly: The only difficulty has been feeling that, at times, my work is misinterpreted. A lot of the media attention focused on
the controversy of feces as an artistic medium – something which is not, I believe, the main focus in my work. feces has in fact been
used in ground-breaking and profound ways, by many artists before me. The relationship between feces and the art world has been well
established for some decades. I just hope that any information published about my work focuses on controversy for the right reasons. Is
it avant-garde that I use feces in my work? No. What is more important, I believe, is how I have used my feces for art and why.
Kaliopy: What gave you the idea to use your feces in your works?
Georgie Mattingly: I first came up with the idea to alter the colour of my feces when I was studying painting in Italy during 2009. I was
laughing with friends over dinner about the different colours the body could create. Little did I know this idea would follow carry me through
to the end of my degree.
I had a very inspiring lecturer at the time, who saw beauty and humour in my idea. I soon became consumed in investigations and
experiments with the body and how to alter its basic functions.
kaliopy: How did "life is delicious" evolve?
Georgie Mattingly: The exhibition ‘Life is Delicious’ includes a collection of bizarre ornamental objects including colourful paintings, rotating
Hindu Mandalas, a stupa-like two meter tall stack of plates and a series of resins encasing brightly coloured human feces, representing
the Chakra colours of eastern spirituality. This interest in eastern spiritual philosophies began during my time in South-East Asia during
2007 and early 2009. This led me to question my own spiritual beliefs, which at times has overwhelmed me and made me feel somewhat
confused. That’s when I decided to express my questions and spiritual thought in a very fun and light-hearted way, through humour and
vibrant colour. The title of the exhibition came to me through wise advice from a good friend. She was telling me to soak up every moment,
because “Life is Delicious.” I began thinking of life as a sensory experience – something to digest – something which goes into the body
and comes out… it seemed very fitting to my work at the time.
Georgie Mattingly: I first came up with the idea to alter the colour of my feces when I was studying painting in Italy during 2009. I was
laughing with friends over dinner about the different colours the body could create. Little did I know this idea would follow carry me through
to the end of my degree.
I had a very inspiring lecturer at the time, who saw beauty and humour in my idea. I soon became consumed in investigations and
experiments with the body and how to alter its basic functions.
kaliopy: How did "life is delicious" evolve?
Georgie Mattingly: The exhibition ‘Life is Delicious’ includes a collection of bizarre ornamental objects including colourful paintings, rotating
Hindu Mandalas, a stupa-like two meter tall stack of plates and a series of resins encasing brightly coloured human feces, representing
the Chakra colours of eastern spirituality. This interest in eastern spiritual philosophies began during my time in South-East Asia during
2007 and early 2009. This led me to question my own spiritual beliefs, which at times has overwhelmed me and made me feel somewhat
confused. That’s when I decided to express my questions and spiritual thought in a very fun and light-hearted way, through humour and
vibrant colour. The title of the exhibition came to me through wise advice from a good friend. She was telling me to soak up every moment,
because “Life is Delicious.” I began thinking of life as a sensory experience – something to digest – something which goes into the body
and comes out… it seemed very fitting to my work at the time.
Kaliopy: Tell us what you set to achieve/express in this body of work you have exhibited?
I wanted to create a space, which evoked an experience for the audience. I set out to create a space which would prompt an internal debate – where one
felt safe to question the nature of their own faith and spiritual beliefs. Yet overall, I feel it is most important to make my audience smile. I think the power of
art can be very subliminal. Perhaps someone steps into this space, engages with a particular piece, sees the humour in it – and smiles. They might not
even know why they are smiling – or they might simply narrow it down to satire. But little do they know there is a universe of meaning within that smile. It is a
smile which responds to a very sophisticated language of internal thought.
I wanted to create a space, which evoked an experience for the audience. I set out to create a space which would prompt an internal debate – where one
felt safe to question the nature of their own faith and spiritual beliefs. Yet overall, I feel it is most important to make my audience smile. I think the power of
art can be very subliminal. Perhaps someone steps into this space, engages with a particular piece, sees the humour in it – and smiles. They might not
even know why they are smiling – or they might simply narrow it down to satire. But little do they know there is a universe of meaning within that smile. It is a
smile which responds to a very sophisticated language of internal thought.
Kaliopy: Where are you currently studying? and what would be your strongest subject?
Georgie Mattingly: I am currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University, with a major in painting. Although I have worked across range of
mediums -most works, I think, still do relate strongly to the process of painting. Even in my ‘poo pieces’ there is a great emphasis on the rendering of colour
and composition – which are very traditional conventions of painting.
When I paint, although I may not have one particular subject which I consider a main focus, my work will often deal with issues related to the body and the
spirit – which has perhaps become a recurring theme throughout my current body of work.
Georgie Mattingly: I am currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University, with a major in painting. Although I have worked across range of
mediums -most works, I think, still do relate strongly to the process of painting. Even in my ‘poo pieces’ there is a great emphasis on the rendering of colour
and composition – which are very traditional conventions of painting.
When I paint, although I may not have one particular subject which I consider a main focus, my work will often deal with issues related to the body and the
spirit – which has perhaps become a recurring theme throughout my current body of work.
Kaliopy: Lastly, do you have any new projects your working on or future exhibits?
Georgie Mattingly: Currently I am completing more work (with particular focus on this process of colouring my faeces) which will be exhibited in the
Monash University Graduation Show, which will be held in Caulfield, Melbourne from the 19th Nov to the 3rd December.
After graduation, I will be taking my art on the road – through India and Nepal. These cultures have influenced my work so much, yet I still have never
been. It seems to be the next step. Then I will, of course, return to continue my post-graduate studies.
Georgie Mattingly: Currently I am completing more work (with particular focus on this process of colouring my faeces) which will be exhibited in the
Monash University Graduation Show, which will be held in Caulfield, Melbourne from the 19th Nov to the 3rd December.
After graduation, I will be taking my art on the road – through India and Nepal. These cultures have influenced my work so much, yet I still have never
been. It seems to be the next step. Then I will, of course, return to continue my post-graduate studies.
