Inspiration in Isolation | Tina Vaia
JOHN PAUL PHILIPPE - Artist and Friend
'He gave a gift to me a few years ago. It's made from pieces of metal and glass. It's making me thnk of what I can do for an up and coming project. He lives in Connecticut, in a cabin and works from his barn. JP is such an inpspiration as he creates simple installations like the 'tin can barricade' (from the tin cans he had stored) that he hung from the trees to screen off from a nearby driveway; or the metal hanging bird feeders that hang outside the cabin porch. He takes simple pieces from nature and creates beautiful still life's around his home.'
A piece of work by John Paul Philippe
A piece of work by John Paul Philippe
WALKS, WILD FLOWERS AND WEEDS
'I've always loved Japanese Ikebana. Looking on IG friends were having flower deliveries to their homes. In my 10 minutes of release (to walk the dog) I thought about what could I forage from the streets (parks not open). I managed to pick weeds and flowers from teh curbside and then looked in my Ikebana books for inspiration. I miss having flowers at home and live in an apartment so this has made me realize that nature still is the gift.'
TOTEMS
'I made a series of 3 totems last year for a client. A friend has just asked me to produce one for her. So I'm using the time with the pots at home to work with colours. I love the story of the Shamen Rock at Oikhon Island on Lake Baikal Siberia, it is one of the nine most holy places in Asia. The rock is guarded by 3 totems that stand at the entrance each is covered in bright ribbons. The different colours placed by pilgrims symbolizes different aspects of the environment.
Blue for the eternal sky, green for earth, yellow for the region, red for fire and white for milk.'
