Marnie Collyer in cobalt

Cobalt birds flying with Marnie Collyer

Hastings based artist Marnie Collyer talks to Jude Montague about her work for the Extraordinary Odyssey Exhibition at Electro Studios Project Space

My work combines observations and experiences of the natural world and amalgamates these landscapes into places to be occupied by shadows, symbols and hybrid creatures. The landscapes are drawn from wild places that hold emotional significance to me, often featuring mountains and large bodies of water. I enjoy working intuitively when both sculpting and drawing, allowing the subconscious influences to outpour into larger visions. An integral part of my sculptures are the shadows that they cast. Shadows can be deceiving and are subjective in their interpretation, they are undisclosed yet perceivable and allow opportunity for new perceptive.

What does Extraordinary Odyssey mean to you?

It is the space in-between, neither the underworld nor the over world, but a third space created and occupied by both complimentary and conflicting emotions. Things are both familiar and uncertain at the same time, objects part exposed part concealed. It is a place of reflection.

What are you doing for the exhibition?

I am exhibiting a pair of ceramic birds decorated with cobalt oxide.

There is a sense of unity between the two birds and a feeling of comradeship in their closeness and observation. Their necks dance together and connect at the breast, wrapping into a spherical wing of creatures below them. I also see that there is a third presence out of sight, a separate component to this work that they are reaching for through the direction in their beaks and curves in their necks.

Their beaks point to what is larger than comprehension and omnipotence in the negative space between them.

‘Charcoal Water Bird’ is a two part drawing in charcoal to accompany ‘Cobalt Bird’. This image is a depiction of a similar scene between a bird that stands in solitude amongst a sea of many shapes. The Large coned obscurities puncture the surface of the water, unfamiliar in shape but familiar in feeling. What is submerged and not yet disclosed brings unease yet excitement. There is sense of longing and connectedness with the water they share and its use as a vessel for revelation.

Extraordinary Odyssey
25–27 July 2025
12–5 pm Sat 26, Sun 27
Open event: Fri 25 July, 6–8 pm
Live art events between 2 – 4 pm Sat 26/Sun 27

Electro Studios Project Space
Seaside Road, St Leonards-on-Sea

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