Artist in residence Anna Ilsley brings together art and research

Three works by Anna Ilsley

Bringing together art and research, artist Anna Ilsley is joining Newnham on a 12 month residency. During this time, she’ll be creating new and original artworks in response to research in College, and her own research.

Anna will be working with Fellow Dr Judy Quinn, a specialist in Old Norse literature in the Department of Anglo Saxon, Norse and Celtic.

Anna says “The history of female experience is of critical importance to my work and so to be working at Newnham is a golden opportunity. I know that working in this special environment, knee deep in historically cutting-edge research can help me develop my work in every way.

“My starting points for research are positioned around the historic anxiety associated with the female body, and the psychological and physical release of acts such as cross dressing, performing and the use of costume and masks. I am privileged to be working with Dr Judy Quinn, with our discussion so far pivoting around female sexuality pre-original sin and the colourful female Viking seers and skalds. Not to mention the cross dressing, shape shifting antics of Norse Gods and the array of poetic and visual kennings that alone could inspire vast bodies of work!

Having been awarded Arts Council Research and Development funding for the year, I am gearing up to make some highly ambitious work here at Newnham.”

Anna has already started attending – and sketching at –  Newnham’s popular Friday lunchtime Pudding Seminars throughout term time, in which students and fellows present their research in 20 minute presentations.

She explains, “I expect this exchange to enhance my work and ideas significantly, whilst showing the range of study happening at Newnham. I plan to draw in this environment and at this stage I envisage these drawings to form a part of a final piece of work, contributing to either a wall drawing or ceramic piece.”

A new Sketchbook Club is the first fruit of Anna’s residency, and all are welcome to join and sketch together. See posters around College for details.

Anna will also be posting updates on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/annailsley/