At the beginning of December I visited Elle Brown at her tucked away studio in Mabe, where we spoke about sculpture, Buddhism and the importance of having a community that both provides support and creative feedback.
Read full conversation below
“The solitude of working is energising, I carve deep into the stone carrying its historical weight with just the sounds of the chisel and the smell of the damp stone and easily fall into a state of natural flow”.
Do you consider making art a form of meditation?
I would say most definitely. In the busyness of ever day life, the moments I take to carve are a meditation practice as well as an art form. The solitude of working is energising, I carve deep into the stone carrying its historical weight with just the sounds of the chisel and the smell of the damp stone and easily fall into a state of natural flow.
When I visited your studio, you mentioned an interest in Buddhism. Is there anything particular about Buddhist thought that resonates with you as an artist?
I think being an artist you’re naturally curious, open-minded and potentially spiritual. I definitely resonate with the Buddhists journey to finding peace and spiritual harmony, I think this is something artists are also doing and a way in which the path of both art and Buddhism may meet.
You went to France this summer to assist a sculptor at the Sculpture Symposium, Les Lapidiales, Port D’envoux. What one lesson did you take away from that experience?
I learnt so much from that incredible experience but it was mostly the discovery of that world that was the true lesson. It was a euphoric feeling to discover this type of ‘job’ and realise that is truly what I wanted to do. The opportunity to create public sculptures while travelling to incredible places to do that was something that never crossed my mind. So what I really learnt was the discovery of what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go in the future. And I think that’s the best lesson one can learn from an experience like that.
What do you find the most nourishing about being part of the Quarry House Collective?
I think having your own little community, which is what we have created in Quarry House Collective, means that no matter how far you travel there is always a belonging you feel. Even though we no longer all share a studio, we still share collective beliefs and have a strong bond through our time riding out the end of university in a pandemic together. We will always continue to join together to create work inspired by the natural environment.
What is the most precious book on your bookshelf?
That would be a book that I’ve had since childhood ‘Oh the places you’ll go’ by Dr Seuss. A book I recommend to anyone of any age, it’s a beautiful poetic childrens story-book about the rollercoaster that is life.
If you were to revisit your earliest work; the place where your interest in art began; do you find themes that connect with your work today?
This is a resounding yes, the work moves through different paths but I think ultimately I never strayed too far from the foundations of my subject: the human form. There were periods of portraiture, painting the nude, using the body in photography and videography to finally abstracting all I had learnt over those phases and Develop the body of work I have now.
Who did you 'want to be' when you were a child?
I think I always wanted to be an artist or do something creative. There were points where I was inspired and changed my mind for a brief moment. I once went to watch the ballet at the royal Albert hall and being a ballerina myself at that point, I decided that was my future. I soon realised I didn’t like the reality of what that would be. So really, art has always been the goal for me.