MEET SHILOH PERRY
What was the inspiration behind your piece for SWELL Sculpture Festival 2022?
Architecture has always been an inspiration with my arts practise. Over the last few years we have all spent so much time at home. What many people don’t realise is that the layout of your home really creates the relationships for you and your family. This idea is the main inspiration for many of my artworks.
What does exhibiting in the 20th year of SWELL Sculpture Festival mean to you?
This is my second year exhibiting in Swell and I’m super excited to be apart of such a big milestone for the event. It goes to show all the work the Swell team have done has created a well respected and highly attended event, I feel super lucky to be apart of the 20th exhibition.
What is the coolest art tip you’ve ever received?
Mistakes can be the best inspiration.
Is It lonely working as an artist? If so, how do you combat that?
I don’t think being an artist is lonely work. It’ a niche space being a creator and you need to be super driven to make a career full time in the art world (creating art is not my full-tim job and I really admire those who have the drive to create full time). I enjoy my alone time and thats when I am most creative/inspired. However, I do wish I had a group of other artist friends where we could chat about ideas.
What does your dream collaboration look like, and which artist/s would you chose?
This is a hard one, If I could collaborate with anyone….. Frida Kahlo, Gordon Matta-Clark, Richard Serra maybe add in Bernard Tcshumi and Peter Cundall. We would create something you could walk into… big, heavy and light. It would be a project that would age and grow over time. It would be a beautiful mix of concrete, steel, ageing and nature. It’s my dream for a big collaboration.
What is your favourite art supply store of all time?
The Internet is my art shop because it’s too far to drive to Southport to buy compressed charcoal, paper and latex.
If you could have lunch with any artist from any era, who would it be?
Frida Kahlo and Gordon Matta-Clark.
What is your favourite thing to do after completing a major project?
Sit and look at it for hours and hours.
What is the strangest thing or thought that has inspired a piece of your work, or practice?
Your common garden weeds and puddles, I’m still inspired by them.
If you had to pick one artist to create the story of your life through art, who would you pick and why?
Richard Serra or Tadashi Kawamata, probably because I see the story of my life in artwork as an installation where people would walk through and experience a physical journey.
Do you have an artist power outfit that you wear while creating?
No specific outfit just comfy clothing. I generally wear a lot of black because it’s easy. For me wearing colour can be a little overwhelming.
Do you believe pineapple belongs on pizza?
YES 100% but not on every pizza, I do live life on the edge, you should try pineapple in fried rice!
The Author
Joss Smith is an emerging graphic designer based in Tweed Heads, loving everything visual and immersive. Her passion for the creative arts has led her to study a Bachelor of Visual Communication and Graphics. She hopes to balance her love for the arts, culture and nature with her strengths in communication and management to create wicked designs with wicked people.