Based in a studio down in Co Wicklow—a.k.a. The Garden County—Erica Devine’s work is immersed in nature. Not long back from a trip to France, th
e self-taught Irish artist was over to work on an intricate installation for Jo Malone’s flagship Parisian store. Capturing the delicate beauty of the botanical world by pressing plants into a bed of softly yielding clay and then removing every last seed, root or leaf fragment, Devine finishes her pieces off by pouring liquid plaster into the impression, which then sets as a perfect mould, reflecting the most infinitesimal details.
I set up my studio, Studio Scim, in a converted 18th century grain store in the Wicklow countryside where I also grow plants for use in my work. It was such an exciting commission from both a technical and artistic point of view as it pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the art form. I took a leap of faith and thankfully, so did the Jo Malone design team. We used plants from their iconic perfume range to create the pieces, some of which I grew myself and others that were cut for me from the extensive herbaceous borders of Killruddery House, which is close to my studio. Landing such a commission was quite an amazing experience.
Some of us are tender and need a sheltered spot. A good head gardener knows this and will spend more time and resources to ensure the most delicate flowers amongst us get to bloom too. I have been very lucky in my life to have been brought up by men and women who were without an ounce of sexism in their souls. Quite the opposite in fact. But yes, I have invented my botanical candles, edibles and translucencies. Somebody else, somewhere else and at some other time may have come up with these ideas too of course.I worked a variety of part-time jobs and the occasional museum consultancy to keep money coming in while I got on my feet artistically.
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