TRANSFORMING LITERATURE INTO ART

Year 11 student Taryn Lee’s creativity and artistic prowess is unrivalled. With the opportunity to work as an artist through The Agency (the College’s employment agency for students), Taryn created a series of vibrant, captivating and magical posters showcasing a range of authors that are now housed in Nexus-S.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT?

was appointed to the position of Nexus Poster Artist and, over the past year and a half, I was commissioned by Nexus via The Agency to draw 10 portraits to highlight various authors and their books that are available in Nexus-S. This is very much a team project. Bradley Middleton (Head of Library Services) and I would meet every term or so to discuss two authors that could draw. Then I would provide a draft, get feedback, and send a final copy off to Helena Tilley, our Digital and Web Designer, who added the text elements and converted it into a format suitable for print.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ARTWORKS?

Nexus asked me to create these portraits in a personalised vector style which reflects the authors’ works and themes present in them. hope the artworks show the intersectionality of art forms, as I think this project was a lovely combination of written and visual art. I think the artworks decorate Nexus-S and help make the space feel more comforting. Similar to putting a painting up in the wall of your living room, they add personality to the space.

WHAT WERE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROCESS?

It was fascinating to see my art materialise onto a large A1 poster and up onto the walls. Much of the art I create usually gets buried in folders, especially since I create a lot of digital art. Seeing my art at such a large scale looking back at me was a terrifying amazement. There’s something quite remarkable about seeing an idea in your head become a real thing.

I’ve also indulged in reading the authors that I’ve drawn. I never read the rest of the Percy Jackson series after reading The Lightning Thief in Year 8. This process has definitely made me more passionate about reading again.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN THROUGHOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS?

Vector stylised portraits were something new for me and it was good for me to push myself. Usually, I stick to very organic forms with a realistic art style so branching out and getting outside of my comfort zone helped me grow as an artist. In terms of the actual composition of the poses, I tried to reflect the authors’ works and personalities. I could have drawn a stiff person with a black background but the authors are so diverse and it’s important to reflect that diversity. It was also great to fuse the author’s works with the author. Making those written fictional elements interact with the author was magical. Art truly allows us to depict the mythical.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR ARTWORKS WILL HAVE ON THE COLLEGE COMMUNITY?

I hope that my art in Nexus-S helps make the space feel more personal and welcoming to the College community, and I hope that it encourages someone to pick up a book or ask about a particular author. We’ve also created a few posters with authors that appeal to diverse audiences, such as people of colour and the LGBTQ+ community. So, I’m hoping that it makes those members of our community feel like they’re represented in the College Library collection. I think displaying art around the College in general promotes the idea that the Arts are important and are not an area to be overlooked.

WHY IS ART AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR LIFE?

Art is a huge part of my life! My personal art is cathartic and drawing helps me destress and relax. While drawing is my speciality, I also like to relax with my electric guitar and by listening to music. While I don’t create music, other people’s music is essential to my wellbeing – racked up 106,352 minutes on Spotify last year! I think people forget that art isn’t just Visual Arts. Art is all around us – video games, books, theatre. Everyone consumes art on a daily basis, whether they are aware of it or not. A world without art would be a very miserable one.