Bronwen Anwyl: An Art Attack

Take a trip to Browns East in Shoreditch, London and you may notice a series of interesting and colourful sculptures gracing our large entrance/show space. For the next few weeks, we are playing host to a series of intriguing art pieces from recently graduated fine artist Bronwen Anwyl. 

Since graduating from Falmouth University, Cornwall last year Anwyl has been establishing herself as one to watch in the art world, completing a residency at CAST and exhibiting with Circle Triangle Square and the Newlyn Gallery.  Her playful sculptures use a variety of found objects, including deconstructed furniture, cardboard, paper pulp and fabric. Anwyl experiments with form and structure by wrapping, squishing, pulling and balancing objects to create the final result. Her naïve approach to creation makes for a fascinating viewpoint as the audience tries to understand the relationship between the object and the environment. Using what were once functional objects and then removing that function is a clever way of representing the effect of excess and sustainability in the world. Limited planning with maximum impact, each piece is entirely unique. 

We caught up with Bronwen Anywl to ask her a few questions about her thought-provoking pieces.

1. What is your main source of inspiration?
Materials. The work starts with a collection of objects and materials that I then play around with, balancing, wrapping and squishing together. This playful and naïve process is integral to the final work, the visual connections made through colour, shape, and texture stimulate my ideas and allow me to process my ideas.

2. What is your favourite piece we have at Browns East and why?
“Untitled, Foam”. The use of balance seen in this piece has begun a new line of thought within my practice. How the look of materials can mislead the audience to think one thing, whereas, in reality, they are something completely different. It is this deception and unease with the audience that I want to explore further.

3. What has been your proudest moment as an artist?
I think that it is not a singular moment but a whole year I am proud of. This past year has been a very interesting one; it has been my first year out of University. And the first year of my artistic practice out of the structure of education. I have been through many highs and lows with my practice but at the end of this year, I am proud of where I am now, where I confidently sit with my practice.

4. What is your favourite medium to work with?
The main medium I work in is sculpture; I find that the presence of physicality and movement is very important in my work. The use of 3 dimensions allows the artist and the audience to connect with the work through their physical presence. The sculptural medium allows me as an artist to move with the work while I create it, every action I make is dependant on the structure that I am building. And the audience can see these physical movements in the finished sculptures. 

5. Describe your artwork in 3 words…
playful, naïve, rapid

Bronwen’s artwork will be on display until the 2nd October, don’t miss out.

Words by Alexandra Oliver