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Mandy Wax – Featured Artist of the Month

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Mandy, a Fellow based at The Forge Digswell, is a visual and conceptual artist. She uses primarily printmaking and textile methods in her work which is strongly influenced by philosophy and psychoanalysis. She is interested in themes exploring loss, fragmentation, fantasy and freedom.

In your Mother’s Eye Mandy Wax

1) How would you describe your current practice (e.g. materials, techniques, themes, key questions, approach)?
I’m currently bringing together some of the themes I’ve looked at in the last couple of years. This includes ideas around loss and comfort, and things that ’cannot be spoken of’ such as trauma and shame. I continue to use a variety of media, often returning to printmaking and textiles.

2) What are you working on at the moment (forthcoming exhibitions, events, workshops etc)?
I have co-curated an exhibition called ‘Transgender, Gender & Psychoanalysis’ that will be on at the beginning of March in London. At around the same time, one of my prints, called ‘Broken’ will be on display at an exhibition at The Tavistock and Portman Clinic in London. I’ve been doing art and printmaking once a week with year 6 pupils at a school in Borehamwood which I really enjoy.

3) What are your plans for the coming year?
I’m hoping to increase my teaching and facilitating in the coming year. I also want to look at ways of combining my art practice with creative writing.

4) What is the question you get asked most about your work and how do you answer it?
I get asked ‘what kind of artist are you?’ I say that I do not see myself as one type of artist and that what I try to do is transfer ideas into a visual communication using whatever materials feel most appropriate.

5) What or who inspired you to be an artist and why?
I was very encouraged by a teacher at secondary school, at a time when I thought I wasn’t much good at anything.

6) Which artist do you most admire and why?
Louise Bourgeois. I am continually fascinated and moved by her work. She was an incredible artist and thinker. Her themes and ideas resonate very strongly with me.

7) How has your relationship with Digswell Arts Trust strengthened your practice as an artist?
Digswell has given me the opportunity to immerse myself in my art practice in a way that I would not have been able to otherwise. It has given me some space to develop. I’ve met some fantastic people through my relationship with Digswell.

Details of both exhibitions showing my work can be found at www.mandywax.com/blog