SOMEONES RUBBISH: TIGHTS, ARTIST TO STUDY, FIVE QUESTIONS

2nd year fine art student Jess Phillips at NPTC contacted me as one of her chosen artists to study, she is working on her own project ‘Litter and Plastic’ she had five simple questions to ask , it was fun to answer and also to see how she has been really looking it my work and using it for inspiration for her work.

Jess shared with me the notes she made whilst looking at all the objects I photograph. I was blown away, it’s like she has sat inside my crazy brain, seeing how she has been really studying and looking at my work also how she writes about how one’s eye travels around the object it’s exactly how my eye and brain works when I am out making the ‘SOMEONES RUBBISH’ photos.

Notes, Jess Phillips looking at SOMEONES RUBBISH by @chloejuno

@earth_roots on Instagram Her project ‘Litter and Plastic’

JP: Why have you chosen to photograph litter?

CJ: I didn’t really start out choosing litter it was more an organic process. Spotting small things on the street that interested me. I loved the fact I could really zoom in and look closely at an object on with my phone camera. My camera allowed me flexibility. My professional work back ground and personal passion is working within documentary photography and social history looking at everyday life and objects. I started to look for more objects, I have been enjoying a way to document the everyday..

JP: What emotions do you feel while seeing litter on the streets?

CJ: I love this question! sometimes I’m just walking and spot something and feel a bit of a buzz / tingle to look further so I photograph the object.. sometimes I walk and walk to find things that fit into the over all picture I’m building. I often go into bit of a zone like I’m really focused, like I’ve just landed here and seeing things for the first time whilst also remembering things that maybe I have used in the past or relate in some way. Some things I find make me feel happy as I can feel a happy lived experience other things can make me feel sad..

JP: Is your work a stand on our litter problem?

CJ: No not really it’s more story telling like a street museum / imagine it’s like an archeology project looking at now. It does also address a litter issue but that’s not the overall aim of the work.

JP: What pieces of litter do you think is the most and least visually appealing/ interesting and why?

CJ: I guess I find all the litter / rubbish appealing in some way even stuff that’s perceived as disgusting as it’s all a part of us, represents us and the life we live now.

JP: If you could describe your work in 5 words what would they be?

CJ: It is not necessarily rubbish

Last question was hard, but it fits, as the work is about more than just rubbish
Does this all help. I’m dyslexic so beware of spelling CJ

JP: Thank you so so much! All of your answers are interesting and inspiring. I can’t wait to put your viewpoints and answer to work within my project! Your patients and kindness has been much appreciated and I’m very grateful you were so willing to help.

Thanks again! Jess Phillips

Tights, Someones Rubbish, Brighton and Hove, 2020

Ciggertett Butts, Someone’s Rubbish, Brighton and Hove. Notes Jess Phillips