YDF25 Artist 04 Q&A: Grace Clare

What’s your background?

I originally started creatively in music, performing in churches, as part of a jazz band and doing bits of pit work but discovered I had more of a passion for backstage. For my A-Levels I took the Drama Design option (WJEC) and from there found a passion for design in events. For the next four years I then went to study at university, initially as a technician but then went on to study Live Event Design specialising in technical work at the Academy of Live Technology [formerly Backstage Academy]. Throughout this time, I worked part time doing everything from cleaning stages and being a runner to technical and design work, networking and learning as I go. Since then, I have been developing my own projects along with seeking out opportunities to collaborate with others. I have recently gone back to being a student to study a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. Looking at pairing more traditional artistic practises with my current technical work.

Who are your biggest influences? Artistically? Who inspired you to become an artist?

Artistically my biggest inspiration is everyday life and my observations of this. I predominantly work with audio, which is invisible, which means I also find a lot of my inspiration is taken from the psychology between a sound and how/why a person may react. Looking at how to use this in my work to create narratives in non-language-based design that aims to start conversations and question perspective. The year when I studied for my MA was when I realised, I wanted to be a designer. It was the first time I had been given freedom to work creatively, which is something I have kept going back to. The people I met and the conversations I had that year still inspire both my designs and working practises today.

How have you developed your career? (From student to artist)

This is different for everyone I have spoken to, but for me personally I have applied to every opportunity and continued to network. I also hope to release some of my own projects over the next couple of years too.

What is an artistic outlook on life?

There is a creative beauty in everything, we just need to be willing to look. I think there is something beautiful in the everyday life and often this is where creative solutions can be found. Even if this is a unique experience for every individual.

What advice would you give to a young artist beginning their journey to becoming an artist?

Be open minded and have a go. Take all opportunities if you can, even if it may not be your ideal role. You never know where you may end up or who you might meet.

If you could recommend 3 artists for others to explore who are they?

UVA | United Visual Artists are a group of designers who work with technology.
Björk | Both their music and touring show production design.
Zimoun | Artist, Composer and Designer. Works with installations that pair sculpture and sound.

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