Lights, Camera… Fungus

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This Audiovisual Work is an Artist’s Vision of Life’s Smallest Scales

“Urges in the undergrowth. Erupting fungal fantasies. Bursting botanicals… the dust and desires of a tiny alternative universe. Imagining the sensations of attraction and pleasure in insects, and the seduction methods of the plants and fungi that beckon.”
——Emily Scaife

How do you translate biology to art? For London-based animator Emily Scaife, the answer is the analogue audiovisual work: Attraction. Emily coupled traditional photographic techniques with 2D animation, and collaborated with Ben Bell of Horus Records to create the perfect, brutal soundscape.

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The result is a mesmerising portrait of the world of life at the smallest of scales. The audio and visuals are shocking and cruel yet beautiful.

We sat down with the artist to get a sense of what attracts her creativity.

THE PLUS: What are you looking forward to most this summer? 
Emily Scaife:
Taking time to sit and really think, in the park, surrounded by all the new colours and textures.

TP: Analogue or digital?
ES:
Analogue – or at least using physical materials – fuels more ideas, but the possibilities that digital opens up are mind-blowing so… both together!?

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TP: Thorough-planning or improvisation?
ES:
Improvisation! It sparks the unexpected. But of course, planning is needed to then turn those sparks into something bigger.

TP: Which fascinates you more,chemistry or biology?  
ES:
Biology. It amazes me that even on the tiniest scale, single cells, DNA etc. have such drive and ability to reproduce.

TP: Nature or the city?
ES:
Nature is essential and endlessly inspiring, but I live in a big city (London) and I wouldn’t change that excitement for the world.

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TP: What’s the best thing to be attracted to?
ES:
A feeling of love – and by ‘love’ I just mean a deep passion, be it for a creative outlet, a person, a place, a sensation – but then to pursue that feeling even further and really go ‘inside’ it.

TP: What’s the worst thing to be attracted to?
ES:
Routine, maybe? I mean, creatively at least, it can be a dangerous place where things risk getting stale.

TP: What’s the best piece of advice you have from your creative journey?
ES:
Everyone will have a different opinion or way of doing something so trust your own first instincts – that initial rush will usually carry the most exciting creative energy.

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