Eduardo Paolozzi

For CP3L I analysed clutter in artists' studios and its effects on their practice, using myself and sculptor and collage artist Eduardo Paolozzi as examples. 

Although generally ordered in his storage of materials, in his work he would place unlikely objects and materials together in unusual (and groundbreaking) arrangements.. He used collections of mechanical parts and scrapbooked images as inspiration and poured his collaging obsession into his work to create new, exciting images.

Paolozzi's 'Bash' Warwick University Website

In my 'Home' project I am also using collections (objects, images, photographs) as starting points, but I allowed list making and de-cluttering (a stress response) to cloud my mind and affect my work. My designs suffered. Through researching Paolozzi's approach, I realised that I need periods of 'mess' in terms of creative thinking and approach, and that physical and mental clutter are distracting and harmful to my practice. As a result I removed personal effects from my home studio, so I have a clear space for making and displaying work. Like Paolozzi, I now use a radio instead of TV to free my mind, fill the silence and block out my to-do list while working.

My studio before and after removal of personal effects

I will stop imposing rules for composition, for example grouping things by subject matter, and be more playful with scale; Paolozzi's images work well because they are unexpected, fun and dynamic, and I need to include these elements in my work. Also I have started including photography alongside drawn motifs, to add a different visual effect; this is something Paolozzi did from an early age, as he enjoyed the combination. Looking at his work has had a definite positive effect on my working practice.