Patricia MacKinnon-Day

What I like about Patricia is that she originally studied Fine Art at Liverpool School of Art, Media and Design and after completing an MA at the Royal College of Art in London, she is now a Reader in Environmental Art at LJM University.

It was interesting to hear how she always tries to unearth links between time and people in the various locations. She explores the setting and it’s social history, to give her pieces real substance. She also immerses herself in the community and often involves the people who live and work there.

Patricia also said that her art is “all about my journey” –  she doesn’t know where it will take her but she knows that ideas will come.

I’ve never really considered doing installations either inside or outside, as my own passion at the moment is abstract art, painted on large canvases. However, I really do appreciate how Patricia immerses herself in the history of the place she is doing the art for. It really makes you thionk about so many things, especially the people and their history.

“Marking Time“(2003-2005) is a series of installations on the site of an old Almeshouse (1450’s) in Exeter. She uses reconstructions of medieval glass doors which are placed on the exact place where the original medieval doors stood. They are lit at night and also contain glass replicas of original finds within the glass sections. Very effective.

Patricia also took photographs at an abandoned hospital of the rooms, bathrooms and corridors which were very atmospheric. They really made you think about all the patients and all the staff who used to work there before it was closed down. I really enjoy taking photos too and I can see myself in the future taking photos, really looking at the history of the place, looking at the people who would have been there and possibly incorporating all that into an abstract painting. I really loved the fact she was able to work on an abandoned shipyard where she decided to plant flowers in the tracks. I believe this was a gorgeous idea as it shows the contrast between the rusty tracks and the beautiful, blossoming flowers. She has brought life to something that was old ad abandoned, and I find this truly inspiring.