KITCH-EN GALLERY

Amy Dover's images tackle the dark side of nature, the hidden world. Beautifully executed in graphite pencil she shows, man, bird and beast in all its devastating beauty.

 

Inspired by music, poetry and folklore, she tackles subjects, like death, humiliation, and deceit. Particularly focusing on the belief, shared in many cultures, that our souls turn in to birds after we die. Characters of cannibalistic crows, humiliated bears and the innocence and loss of a dead sparrow.

 

Since graduating in the summer of 2008, Amy currently divides her time between Art, Illustration and letterpress printing."

For those who've not heard of you can you shine a little light on who is Amy Dover?

I am a very large bearded man, who rides a horse and hunts wolves.

 

Where do you call home?

I live between the County Durham countryside, a small village surrounded by farms and woodland, which I’m pretty sure has more ghost stories and wild animals than people in it.

And Newcastle, which has become my second home.

 

How long have you been putting ink to paper?

Ahhhhh…….you mean pencil?

I’ve always drawn, since I was teeny tiny. But I have been doing it professionally for two years now. I don’t think I would be happy doing anything else.

 

How would you describe your work to someone who's never seen it?

Hmmmm? Detailed graphite drawings of bird, beast and man. Showing the darker side of nature and elucidating something a little disturbing.

I would rather show them and let them make up their own mind. Most of the pictures have their own narrative behind them, its nice to let people read in to them.

 

The fascination for birds, er, where does that come from?

Not sure, I suppose I’ve always been surrounded by them, its easy to start drawing what is right outside of your window.

I also read a lot of folk tales and myths. There are a lot about birds. One of my favourites is ‘Flights of Fancy’.

 

Humiliated bears, seems were heading into some S&M Victoriana drinking den?  Or is that a metaphor of emasculation?

The humiliated bear comes from a Joanne Newsom song called ‘Monkey and Bear’. It’s so sad. It is about Ursula the dancing bear, who runs away with the monkey she is in love with. But the money makes her dance for money.

It’s more about the restraints of society and relationships, rather than sexual games.

 

Your themes are quite dark, does your work allow you to exercise your inner demons.

I think everyone has a lot of inner demons they are battling, and a darker side.

I like to express it through my drawing it helps me work things out, and try to understand things I can’t quiet get my head round.

I like to put my heart and sole in to what I do. Otherwise it’s just a bit crap, if I’m drawing something meaningless, especially the length of time I take to work on a single piece.

 

Back to birds and Victoriana, do you have any stuffed birds in glass domes, displayed in your house?

Of course! Antique bird cages, found bits and bobs, old photographs, skulls, and yes lots of taxidermy. Even a bird that hit my window has been stuffed so I can draw from her.

 

So, who and/or what do you gather your main influences from?

I listen to A LOT of music. Particularly folk. Currently can’t get enough of Agnes Obel and Nick Cave.

As well as I mentioned before Myths, legends and folk tales.

 

You recently worked with Cloud Commission at Dance City, Newcastle, how was that?

It was fun. I added a pigeon to the mural. Particularly I drew Mr.Pervert. The pigeon that sits outside of my window at home staring in.

It was interesting to see Carlos’ working practice in relation to mine. Its good too see how other people approach creating pieces, as well as the time they take, haha.

 

Anyone else you’d like to collaborate with?

Ooooo….lots of people! I’m a big fan of a lot of artist’s work, unfortunately a lot of them died along time ago.

If I could bring them back from the dead; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, J W Waterhouse and Caravaggio.

 

Your work is quite intricate, did you find it hard to keep that element of Amy Doverism, when working in a larger scale?

No, not at all, that’s how I work. I do quick sketches and plan them out before I start.

 

What does the future hold for Amy?

I’m currently in an exhibition in Newcastle called Night shade. Its is part of Design Event. My work sits along side the artists Emily Forgot and Alaric Hammond.

I have lots of other things coming up but I’m going to keep them under my hat (or nest of hair) for now.

 

Well, the dinner bell is ringing so time to go and fill up, but we have one final, yet most important, question left - tea or coffee?

Tea! All the way. I couldn’t draw with out it!