Amy Gillies
The Urge to Satisfy Literature, 2020.
During the COVID-19 lockdown in the U.K, I spent three months at my family home in which I was able to reacquaint myself with my childhood bedroom. This opportunity gave me time to revisit the novels that I read as a child, including those featured on the school curriculum.
At home and away from my London studio, I took advantage of the materials I had on hand and developed a new collection of experimental poems. The Urge to Satisfy Literature is a concrete poem consisting of twelve pages of redacted text from the introduction to Lord of the Flies by William Golding, written by Ian Gregor and Mark Kinkead-Weekes. The work can be understood as a long form poem or each page can be read as an individual piece.
Inspired by A Humument by Tom Phillips RA, this series seeks to find connection through redaction and expand his field of ornamental writing. My politically charged treatment of the pages explores how the exposed text can speak to the themes of the original novel, as well as today’s political climate. In the era of fake news, alternative facts, and multiple conflicting opinions in the media, it is more important than ever to read in between the lines to reveal something more meaningful. In its altered state, the book exists as a reminder of the beauty that can be found during our darkest days, and the simple, yet powerful nature of literature.
Amy Gillies is a contemporary artist who lives and works in London. Employing painting and poetry as a vehicle for social and political dialogue, her practice is concerned with the memory of the past and the politics of the present.
In 2019, Amy completed an MFA in Fine Art from Kingston School of Art, where she had studied a BA Hons in Fine Art and Art History previously. Since graduating, Amy has exhibited at the Solace Summit in Birmingham, performed spoken word at Bermondsey Project Space and in early 2020, she took part in the Artist in Residence programme at One Paved Court in Richmond.
Furthermore, during the COVID-19 stay at home order, Amy co-founded The Quarantined Art Collective. This online platform was designed to connect artists, collaborate, and share work that was produced during the lockdown. Amy’s involvement in this collective included commissioning a series of monologues that were featured on the platform. This experience motivated her desire to collaborate and generate new and experimental ideas.
