13 Feb Liz West: Creating a Sensory Phenomena
Did you know that our understanding of color can only be realized through the presence of light? In fact, the right mixture of color and light can create a totally captivating sensory phenomena that will leave us speechless. To expand on this concept, we spoke to British artist, Liz West, who creates vivid environments that mix luminous color and radiant light to provoke a heightened sensory awareness in the viewer. See what she had to say about her experiential art and what makes it so colorfully unique.
An Additive Mix by Liz West, Photograph by Stephen Iles, National Media Museum
What is your most memorable design?
“The most memorable is, of course, not always the best! That said, the one that sticks in my mind the most had a happy outcome mainly due to the collaborative approach with architecture design studio, Nissen Richards. I was commissioned to make a new work for the Summer 2015 exhibition at the National Media Museum in Bradford, UK. The final outcome was An Additive Mix, a 10m x 5m purpose build room clad with mirrors on all walls and a ceiling rig consisting of 250 6ft fluorescent lamps, each a completely different hue (filter). This installation took the principal that all colors in light collectively make white; additive mixing.”
What is one of your favorite projects you’ve designed? Why?
“My most recent work, Aglow, is amongst my favorites. I enjoy so many elements of this work, especially the color palette, how it acts as a sundial when in direct sunlight and how it beautifully reflects the surroundings. Each time I exhibit the work it looks completely different and takes on a new life. However, the main brief for the commissioned work was to celebrate female creativity and to empower women. Aglow is my hymn to this concept; with its sensory visuals, multifaceted interpretations, the relationship between light and color and also the space it inhabits.”
What’s on your experiential bucket list? Why?
“Two of my favorite artists are James Turrell and Olafur Eliasson. There are many of their works which I would like to experience first hand. On my bucket list of things to experience is also the sensory overload of certain cities, particularly those in India, are high on my agenda. The rush and combination of smells, tastes, textures, sounds and sights is very applying to me. The closest I have go so far is the souks of Morocco.”
About Liz West
Liz West is a British artist (b.1985) who graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 2007. West’s broad body of work encompasses wall-based artwork, sculpture, and site-specific installations. She creates vivid environments that mix luminous colour and radiant light with the purpose of provoking a heightened sensory awareness in the viewer.
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