Artist talk with Elsa Rouy
Tell us about yourself.
I am a 21 year old, queer artist who was born in Kent, I now live in London. I make art based around the body and the human condition.
Where did your passion for art begin?
I remember art being the only thing that I was ever drawn to as a child, I really liked making things. My Nan had would draw up women in dresses and I would colour them in, that’s probably where it began. The rest is history.
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'Jackie Danny (Fanny)', 2021
Latex, Muslin, hair and freshwater pearl on 20mg paper framed in a wooden frame
29.7 x 42.0cm
How would you describe your work to someone?
My art is an exploration of the body through female sexual expression and grotesque imagery. Using themes that centre around over-dependency, guilt, shame and the idea of the monstrous woman.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my solo show with @Guts_gallery that will be happening in August. I don’t want to give much away but I am really excited for it as I am enveloping different aspects of my practice in one. I’m also just working on developing my practice, always pushing myself, the medium, my ideas.
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When you start a new work or project, do you plan what you’re going to create or do you improvise?
I think it’s a 50/50 split. I will have an idea in my head, do a quick sketch then draw it bigger on canvas. I never really have a colour scheme in mind this develops as I go. For larger projects such as my solo show, it’s more planned but still free flowing and changeable. For larger projects I usually start with a poem I wrote and then go from there.
Can you highlight some of your influences and discuss how your influences have made an impact on you and your practice?
I get a lot of my influence from my life, my emotions, understanding these and accepting myself wholly. This has impacted the themes that I explore and how I tackle the human body and the expression of emotions and tension between my figures. I am also influenced by a lot of film, I recently watched Society by Brian Yuzna and it was really impactful for the end scene. It’s so grotesque and campy I loved it.
What are your plans for the remainder of this year?
I have my solo with Guts Gallery in the works which I have already mentioned and I also have A couple of group shows that I will be part of. I’ve just finished uni and moved into a new studio so I’m looking forward to creating more work and experimenting.
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