Speaking of Which

“Being an artist is the best thing an artist can be and it is all they can be”

This project is inspired by the desire to connect young people with the rich ideas that inform our visual culture and to give them a unique insight into arts practises by hearing, directly from the artists, why they make art, how they make art, and what inspires them. The series (which will be made available as a free online resource) provides an opportunity for young audiences to connect with these interesting and dynamic artists and to see visual arts as a whole in a new and exciting way. The videos are intended for use in an educational setting both as a starting point for conversations with young people to talk about their own creativity, ideas, and inspirations and as a tool for teachers and educators to devise workshops and other practical activities for their classes.

The artists talk about how their work is influenced by subjects as diverse as the Cold War, nature and the moon. They speak about how their upbringing has shaped their practice and how different materials have influenced the artworks they have created.

The diversity of their backgrounds and experiences is reflected in the work each artist makes, making for a broad, intriguing and exciting set of interviews. The artists all draw inspiration from many sources: books they have read, films they have watched, conversations they have had, environments they have lived in, and places they have visited and talk us through their process of converting those inspirations into new, thought-provoking pieces of work.

The Dock and The Lab both celebrate their fifteenth anniversaries this year. They have a history of working with boundary-breaking and evocative artists and linking their work to new audiences and working extensively with schools and young people.

This unique partnership between the two organisations seeks to further expand on this work making accessible and inspirational content that benefits artists, young people, and educators equally.