Natasha Rosling
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Residency: April-May 2010
Project Description
The work I realized whilst at sculpture space was the result of rather experimental approaches to the materials at hand rather than a clearly preconceived plan. However there is certainly some correlation of this installation to my most recent pieces of work from the past year. I approached the whole space as a large scale collage, where my choice of colour and surface was mostly influenced by certain qualities I found intriguing in the local Utica architecture, for example the layering of different wooden or felt tiles on the facades of the buildings, the verandas and fencing. This visual information was also combined with certain ideas and forms that have been lingering in my imagination for quite some time (also evident in some of my drawings) which I had not yet found suitable materials or spaces to realize them in until coming to Utica. I was keen to use lighter and low-tech materials with a closer relationship to craft, do-it-yourself, or domestic activities rather than anything of an industrial nature – to give more of a sense of the direct handling of materials and an almost absurd activity of making. Because of this I really enjoyed experimenting with insulating foam board for the first time, as well as getting my hands on such a range of interesting wallpapers.
I would not really consider the entire installation as a finished or resolved work (even though it was finished in terms of making), rather it is more of a large scale sketch book of ideas that I explored during my residency. In this way each component to the installation is a separate idea in itself which could hold potential for further development as well as having a strong relationship to the rest of the installation, both physically, materially and through association. In this way, the opportunity to have the facilities, space, time and resources to experiment and test different ideas in this way is invaluable to my working and thinking process, providing me with a lot of material and ideas to reformulate in my next works.
About the Artist
Natasha Rosling is a European based sculptor/installation artist, born in London, 1985. Her work explores the interrelationship of the human body with the physical and psychological layering of the structured environment – where cultural attitudes towards heritage, architecture, craft and decoration come into play. She studied BA Sculpture at Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, and MFA Fine Art at the Sandberg Institute, Amsterdam. She has completed many international projects and residencies, having exhibited in China, Canada, Mali, The Netherlands, Austria and London. She is part of the international artist organization and platform, Vision Forum, and is represented by the Hidde van Seggelen Gallery in London.