Joanne Tiffany (UNBOUND)
We’re pleased to share with you some of the Wakefield-based UNBOUND artist cohort.
UNBOUND is an
artist training & mentoring development programme for artists seeking to develop their practice to deliver artworks in public spaces, which is delivered by BEAM and ourselves at YVAN. It’s part of Our Year, and is funded by Wakefield Council, Cultural Development Fund and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Introducing Joanne Tiffany - a multidisciplinary artist living in Wakefield, currently studying Fine Art at Leeds Beckett University, whilst also being an ambassador to the charity ‘Outside In’.
Joanne explores the social contract, focusing on issues around disability, chronic illness, power, and barriers. Through all her work, she passionately advocates for equality, inclusivity and access whilst using her own personal lived experience to be both progressive and positive.
“I have always created; it has been my escape from a young age and, at times, my safety net.”
Can you tell us a bit about your practice as a visual artist?
My practice explores the social contract using a variety of materials, including photography, film, sculpture, and textiles to confront hypocrisy within this, to highlight hidden narratives and lived experiences. Having a multi-disciplinary practice gives me freedom to allow the artwork to grow, develop, transform, and establish whilst giving flexibility as an artist living with disability and chronic illness. My practice, whilst also highlighting health and wellbeing, draws primarily but not exclusively upon my own lived personal experience to be both progressive and positive.
Why do you create?
I have always created; it has been my escape from a young age and, at times, my safety net. However, now it’s a compulsion that must be fulfilled, from the idea, planning, building and the completion I enjoy every part even the stressful stages.
“I would like to see more accessible buildings, art studios, exhibitions with accessible artwork, and/or with accessibility built into the design and layout at every stage. Also, input from a mix of people because lived experience can give greater insight. ”
Do you consider yourself to be part of an artist network/community, and if so, how does this impact your practice?
Honestly, yes and no. It’s not a simple answer for me. I am part of a great digital artist community, that is supportive, encouraging, progressive, inclusive, and accessible which is helpful and impacts my artistic practice positively. I have great artistic friends that I can rely on and are extremely supportive. However, a physical artist community is something I am still working to integrate with due to health-related factors, I know it’s there but accessing it, can sometimes be an issue for me.
What changes would you like to see in the arts sector?
An industry wide change I would like to see and be an impact on is access and not just access as an after though but at the forefront. I would like to see more accessible buildings, art studios, exhibitions with accessible artwork, and/or with accessibility built into the design and layout at every stage. Also, input from a mix of people because lived experience can give greater insight. Finally, integrating these things within education’s curricula, developing research and programmes in which to improve the build landscape.
How has the UNBOUND development and mentoring programme, about creating art for public spaces, impacted your own outlook and your creativity?
Unbound development and mentoring programme has given me an abundance of insight and knowledge that I did not have before. The programme gave me the confidence to look & apply for opportunities to work with communities, organisations and submitting applications for public space artworks. This development programme has made me look beyond researching public artwork of other artists and envisage and design work for public spaces.
What are your future aspirations as a visual artist and have you got anything coming up you’d like to share?
My main future aspiration is to complete my BA Degree along with that I would like to run some workshops on making access integrated artwork.
Links:
www.instagram.com/joanne_tiffany_art
UNBOUND is part of Our Year, and is funded by Wakefield Council, Cultural Development Fund and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.