Nature and art collide in Lisa King’s world
By Sujata Burman
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London-based print artist Lisa King finds a meditative quality in creating her work. Usually, her pieces are the result of an emotional response, often looking at concepts of deconstruction and dichotomy, and influenced by her cross-cultural upbringing. ‘Screwprint’ is one of her signatures, an abstract exploration of the natural world, realised in print across all of her work. In contrast to the colour and femininity elsewhere in her prints, this one is an ode to all things minimal and industrial.
For LDF22, King collaborated with the Montcalm East hotel in Shoreditch, creating a series of printed panels to takeover the windows of the Op Art-style building. Here, King tells us more about this very East London artistic collaboration.
How did the collaboration with Montcalm East come about?
The Montcalm hotel originally framed one of my silk scarf prints for its permanent collection, through the art curator there, Anne Rogers, who is also managing director of Culture A. I was honoured when they approached me to work on a takeover for London Design Festival.
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What inspired the installation?
The installation comprised 22 large-scale printed silk hangings, which each portray a flower portrait. The hangings spanned the hotel’s front facade, alongside video projections, workshops and the retail space inside. The work is inspired by a film called the Tallest Flower, created in collaboration with my East London community of florists, dancers and musicians. Therefore, Montcalm East made for the perfect setting in which to showcase them.
What draws you to working with nature?
Looking into nature and working with flowers represents a journey of healing for me. The process of creating these prints has become a meditation; I have the flowers, I put on music and I just get lost in a moment where all I have to think about is what's in front of me.
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