My Artist Statement

Lisa Jennings - about my work

My work is inspired by the ephemeral in life. I explore moments, habitats, patterns, behaviours and environments and how they change over time. I am also interested in the audiences understanding of my work, and aim to push the audience to look at the work in a way they may not expect.

In my current work I am looking within the relationships between nature and human beings. Specifically focusing on endangered species and the history of, present experience and future of the zoo environment. I have started this work with comparing the public persona of the polar bear with its actual existence. The healing relationship between animals and people is of great interest to me, and I hope to bring this to life in ways that perhaps remove a sense of formality often associated with viewing and experiencing art.

Installation work is the medium in which I mostly create, and encompasses drawings, printing, photography, sound, video and sculptural work. I enjoy mixing these mediums and find this brings out stronger and at times unexpected elements that carry ideas forward. I have been creating installations for just under 3 years, and am always trying to produce interesting ways to use spaces. This had led me to also strongly consider the role of atmosphere and interaction in my practice.

Additional note:
As part of my work for the BA Hons Visual Art degree show I researched and experienced time spent watching many different animals, but particularly the two polar bears in the Highland Wildlife Park inspired this work that I exhibit. During the month of April 2011, sadly one of the polar bear's Mercedes died aged 30yrs old (a great many years in polar bear years). I would like to thank the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland - who run both Edinburgh Zoo & the Highland Wildlife Park for their help, expertise and kindness. I encourage everyone to visit both places, and their websites for further information on the conservation work they do.

Edinburgh Zoo http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

Highland Wildlife Park http://www.highlandwildlifepark.org