Emily Valentine Bullock - Artist Jeweller
Feathers are my paint. Over the last ten years I have developed my own technique and style using feathers from road kill, cat kill and dead pets. Recently I have moved into a new source of feathers. I have been trapping and killing the registered pest, the Indian Mynah bird. With these feathers I made Mynah Collie 2007, a feathered dog, one of my dog flu series, and it was awarded a merit prize in the Norseweart, the New Zealand Contemporary Art Award.
Galah Collie, also from the dog flu series, was acquired by the Northern Territory Craft Council in the 2007 Acquisition Prize.
In my work I wish to discuss how attitudes to wearing animals and birds parts have changed. Is this just because of fashion, or has society become more caring of animals? I wish to stimulate the viewer with the uncomfortable nature of the feather, to question our callousness treatment of animals and birds, and ask how we sub-consciously classify animals – pet or pest, valued or worthless, beautiful or plain and why.
The death of my own two budgies inspired me to make “Budgerigar Brassiere”, which won the Mac’s Bizarre Bra award at the WorldofWearableArt in 2002. This led me on to make work about the breast. Two bras were shown in the JOC (Jewellery Out of Context) exhibition which did a world tour.
I am also know for my beadwork, fashion jewellery and pieces made from recycled products. I create this work in my studio, More eM, Newtown where I have worked for 18 years.
I majored in jewellery at Sydney College of the Arts finishing in 1987, and worked in the fashion industry for 7 years. Presently, my work is regularly exhibiting in galleries and is used successfully in theatre, dance and performance.
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