Over the last few years my work has involved taking elements from fairytales and folklore. The focus of my work this year has been on making objects that are somewhat surreal. I wanted to create objects that appeared to be from a ‘dream-world’ and aimed to achieve this by employing nostalgic objects and combining them with materials to suggest a kind of excess. Some pieces include the overflowing sugar from a kitsch teacup, a mass of glasses being pulled along by chicken feet and a collection of eggs made from jelly on elaborate tacky gold stands.

A large amount of my work can be seen to relate to Freud’s idea of ‘The Uncanny’. In the essay of the same name, Freud explores the idea that something can appear unsettling and strange, whilst at the same time maintaining its familiarity. I related the idea of ‘The Uncanny’ to particular houses from my childhood that I have visited again and again over the years- whilst they feel very familiar, they also seem very alien in nature.

My work has also been influenced by the work of the Czech film-maker Jan Svankmajer, particularly his stop motion animated film ‘Alice’ where he makes everyday objects come alive. George Bataille’s book ‘The Story of the Eye’ has also had an influence on my work, particularly the pieces involving eggs made from jelly. When referring to egg-like objects, Bataille emphasizes their erotic or sexual qualities- this influenced my decision to make the casts of eggs have a creamy, marble-like appearance.