Art Seeker Stories Emma Hill

Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from Johannesburg, South Africa :

My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.

Today, I don’t seek art, instead I seek Johannesburg’s wild animals. I hug a cub and seek South Africa’s finest wild animals at The Pilenesberg National Park. So many years later realise how art engages with us, shouting it’s plight to save our endangered animals.

Art Mentioned :
Andy Warhol's Endangered Animals
Artworks For Change: Ethics, Excess, Extinction
The Endangered Species Mural Project by The Wildlife Federation , USA

Recommended Listen:
 EP 20: Art 2 HeArt : Skye Holland, Creatively Paving New Ways in Art, Passionately Making a Difference in Wildlife Conservation.
EP 10 Cat Coulter : Eco Trash Artist - Beach Trash Blueprint for Cyanotype Photograms.

Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from London UK :

My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.

I take a trip to London to the Royal Acadamy and catch the crest of the wave as it begins to fall. This is Saatchi decade’s follow up show to ‘Sensation’, Apocolypse, Beauty and Horror in Contemporary Art, ironically before much of it disappears for good, up in smoke.

22 years later,  Art in London still shocks, and doesn't. The messages are still the same. There is space for everyone to be included, no matter who you are or what you believe, it's all about expression, if you desire, you carve your path. 
For now, London is in mourning for Our Queen Elizabeth II, tomorrow she'll be laid to rest. 

Artists & Artworks mentioned.
'Cellar' Gregor Schneider
'Hell' by Jake and Dinos Chapman 
'Dream Temple' by Mariko Mori
'The Undesireables' Tim Noble and Sue Webster
'The 9th Hour' Maurizio Cattelan

Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from Hong Kong,  Day 2&3 :

My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.

I go on a walk about on Hong Kong Island, stepping into the view beyond my hotel room window, from Victoria Harbour to Victoria Peak. I find a Golden Conquest, art from Thailand and China and some prized pets in Kowloon.

22 years later, I'd love to revisit as Hong Kong Art, takes central stage - This last year sees The New M+ Museum and The Palace Museum open in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong. Although  Art hasn’t come without its difficulties due to the impact of Hong Kong’s national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the Chinese government in 2020.

Names and Places, notes:

Victoria Harbour and Peak.

At Cental
Art Scene China showing work by Morgan (Xiao Guo Fu) and Du Xinjian
Galeria Asia :  ‘Salute to Summer’ Painting 'Golden Conquest ' Thai Artist Niti Wattuya.

Kowloon
MongKok, Market place
Hong Lok Street, Bird Garden

Would Like to visit:
Hong Kong Art Basel , Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
M+ Museum 
Hong Kong Palace Museum

Art Seeker Stories: A postcard from Hong Kong,  Day 1 :

My artist journey and travels as an art seeker, a culture vulture, a 20 something trolly dolly. My diary edit, nostalgically looking back, 22 years to the day - today.

Despite 4am tornado warnings I take a ferry to Lantau Island and visit Tai O, Asia’s little Venice and the Big Buddha at the Po Lin monastery, shrouded in fog.

22 years later, I reflect on the connection between art and religion, by expression, in the  essence of spirit.

Names and Places, notes:

Tai O
Kwan Tai Temple
Kwan Tai, Warrior and God of War

Lantau
Po Lin Monastery
(The Big) Tian Tan Buddha
Three Trikaya Buddha

Hong Kong Island
China Jump

Today on the Art Seeker Stories podcast, I have an Art 2 HeArt with Heidi Shedlock, a South African, Durban based artist and educator who paints from her studio in Durban North. Heidi grew up in a creative family of crafters and makers, running her own shop called Shedlock Interiors with her mother and she also spent many years teaching art. Now Heidi paints full time and is founder of the Creative Community Studio.
 In this episode, Heidi tells me how she started out, originally not believing she could make a career as a full-time artist but now knows otherwise. We are both colour- lovers and love creating art for Joy, Heidi is well known for her large expressive flower paintings but tells me of her delightful ‘Painting in the Post’ project that are autobiographical and kept her creating for an incredible 568 consecutive days. She tells us about her Creative Community Studio where she has created a hub for artists to thrive.

Heidi's book recommendations:
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Your Inner Critic is an Inner Jerk, by  Danielle Krysa
Art of Rivalry: Four Friendships, Betrayals, and Breakthroughs in Modern Art,
by Sebastian Smee

You can find out more about Heidi below.
Website: www.heidishedlock.com
Instagram: @heidishedlock

Creative Community Studio
Website: www.creative-community-studio.teachable.com
Instagram:  @creative_community_studio

Today on the Art Seeker Stories podcast, I have an Art 2 HeArt with Becky Sheraidah, Founder and CEO of ARTHOUSE Unlimited,  a charity that represents a collective of artists living with complex neuro-diverse and physical support needs, including complex epilepsy. The artists' work alongside instructors to create artworks which are developed into designer products for sale. All artwork derives from the skills each artist brings and every contribution holds real value.
 The charity provides a socially inclusive and safe environment for adults who are often susceptible to social exclusion. ARTHOUSE Unlimited believe that feeling a sense of social inclusion, feeling valued for individual skills and truly purposeful in daily life enhances emotional health and well-being. 
Becky’s aim is for Arthouse Unlimited to be a platform for social change, as so many people living with similar conditions experience social isolation and are undervalued for skills in daily life. The artists have individual and expressive styles when creating artworks and have a unique way of seeing the world, offering an alternative view of society and enhancing other peoples’ lives with beautiful artistic offerings.
 In this episode, Becky and I talk about our emotional connection to the sea and the wonder of nature. We dig deep into intuition and universal energy. We chat about Becky’s own artwork which echoes her own cycle of life. She paints portraits, feeling a deep connection with those she paints as they are invited to collaborate, although she hasn’t painted in a while, instead her true vision and focus is ARTHOUSE Unlimited. We chat about how ARTHOUSE Unlimited came to be and reminisce about the early days, and talk about the importance of value, purpose, and social inclusion for all. 

You can find out more about ARTHOUSE Unlimited, below
Website : www.arthouseunlimited.org
Instagram: @arthouse_unlimited

You are always welcome to visit the ARTHOUSE Unlimited shop:
96 Highstreet, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1DW

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