1. Motherhood & the Mundane is a visual response to the day-to-day routines of raising a child. Based on a series of lists created whilst organising my daughters’ schedules/meals etc. this never-ending circular book visualises the seeming insignificance of planning, through the throw away photocopied aesthetic. The original lists have been destroyed through an enlarging and cropping process, breaking out of the mundane in the attempts to ‘find the Light’. The ‘Light’ being freedom, spontaneity, adventure, passion and faith.
2. Lists, planning, organising, trying to maintain control, mapping and finding identity in the mundane.
3. Bookworks created for the performance 'Hollerday'. A site specific Dance Performance for Hollerday Hill in Lynton directed by Sarah Shorten (Stacked Wonky Dance Company) and commissioned by North Devon Theatres and Festival.
4. Typographic pillowcases created for the performance 'Hollerday' for North Devon Theatres SMASH BOYZ in collaboration with Stacked Wonky Dance Company.
Introduction
Victoria’s visual practice seeks to contextualize herself in relation to her environment and beyond, both physically and spiritually. The practice manifests itself through a wide variety of outputs such as typographic, bookworks, photographic, installation, collections, and breaking the boundaries of the art and design subject areas.
Re-current subjects/themes
Collections, categorising, archiving, lists, mapping, organizing, sequencing, routine, control, motherhood, the mundane, priorities, purpose, spirituality, identity, selflessness, serving others,
reality, wilderness, isolation, being at peace, finding oneself, time, nature, coast, finding silence, freedom, adventure, risk, escape, faith, looking outwards, looking inwards, the big picture the small picture, the great divide, the light, words, notations.
Current research
Victoria’s practice focuses on ‘the great divide’ of motherhood and freedom. The tension between control, organization, routine; the mundane, and finding oneself in the ‘wilderness’ where there is adventure, risk, spontaneity, escape.
The research investigates the selfless nature of motherhood, providing love, inspiration, enthusiasm, devotion and time - of which can be seen as a legacy (putting in time to develop the next generation). This is alongside the day-to-day necessities; the mundane and seemingly unseen. Real peace can be found in the simplicity of the mundane. Love for the children becomes deep as the self surrenders to simply giving.
The counterpoint of this is finding oneself, finding silence, finding the light. The research is currently investigating whether this can be found (and if so when and how) in the reality and identity of motherhood. Can a mother go to the wilderness away from control? Can a mother find freedom like the early pioneers? In this century can a mother find adventure in motherhood?
Past research
Victoria’s research/practice to date has focused on the methods in which her own practice is generated and how her practice is used as a research tool, (Notations, Collections, idea generation, recording etc.). She has been investigating spirituality in sites. The uses of notations and collections have been the primary source of her investigation of landscape. By visiting specific sites in which she had a connection, She has been able to explore beliefs through the experiences that occur.
The body of work in production is that of collections and notations which show a personal response to the parallels of human existence and our relationship to the world around us.
January 2011
A journey to stillness published in Varoom magazine
April 2009
Bookwork exhibition UoP Shirwell Centre
Motherhood and the mundane
July 2008
Postcard, poster, eflyer produced for 'Inhale and Hold'. A Dance in Devon commission for Big Dance. Funded by Dance in Devon, Big Dance, Plymouth Dance, Dance South West, Arts Council England, Devon County Council, Dancing Devon - Devon Dance Festival 2008.
June 2008
Installations, bookworks, text based visual work, publicity and promotion produced for 'Hollerday'. Smash Boys in collaboration with Stacked Wonky Dance Company site specific performance. Commissioned by North Devon Theatres for North Devon Festival. Funded by Arts Council England, Lottery Grants Awards for All, Make the Move Performing Arts and North Devon Festival.
January 2007
'Journey' exhibition Swansea
The Voice of McCleash (Letterpress)
November 2006
BOOK PUBLICATION : Getting it right with type,
Laurence King Publishers Ltd. Distributed throughout UK & USA
December/January 2005/6
REVIEW: How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul, Adrian Shaughnessy. AOI Journal
June 2005
REVIEW: Designing Type, Karen Cheng, Laurence King Publishers Ltd.
July 2003
REVIEW: Type & Typography, Phil Baines and Andrew Haslam.
Laurence King Publishers
August/September 2001
REVIEW: Becoming Designers: education & influence. Esther Dudley and Stuart Mealing
AOI Journal
ARTICLE: The book as a vehicle for creativity; cross-pollination of graphic design
AOI Journal February/March 2001
Background
Victoria has been teaching since 1995 mainly in higher education but also for a short time in further education. She has worked at the University of Plymouth since 1997 and also a number of institutions previous to this including North Oxfordshire College and School of Arts, UWE and Parnham College.
Victoria joined the University of Plymouth as a 0.5 member of staff and became full time and course leader for BA Hons Design: Graphic Communication with Typography in 2002. In 2004 she gained the role as Subject Forum Chair Art & Design/Arts & Humanities, managing the partnership activities for the Faculty of Arts. In January 2008 Victoria became a 0.5 member of staff releasing time from work to spend with her two daughters.
To view Victoria’s current research click here: http://victoria-squire.blogspot.com