Fiona Parkinson Interviewed by Emily Musgrave
Fiona Parkinson (born in Sheffield in 1982) is an artist based
in Lincoln, England. First developing her taxidermy skills during her BA Hons course in Jewellery & Object at the University of Lincoln, Fiona has become an artist accomplished in the morbid beauty of taxidermy. After receiving the College School of Art Award during her time on her undergraduate degree, Fiona has gone on to exhibit widely. Her work has featured in exhibitions including: Gallery of Art, Legnica, Poland; JOYA Contemporary, Spain; Beit Meirov Gallery, Israel; New Designers Business Centre, London; The National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford and The Collection, Lincoln. Fiona Parkinson’s practice delicately deals with the themes of morality, transience and anthropomorphism. Exploring the idea of object having a humanlike history, Fiona creates her work with the idea of objects and the animals used having past lives.
fionaparky@yahoo.co.uk
FP: I bought them... Gosh it's been a long time. It was when I was still living in Mapplethorpe, just at a shop there. So they're not like, a really great brand of walking boot but they just mean so much to me now that even though I'm so into my hiking and my walking and I have got some new boots some shiny new boots! But I can't bring myself to wear them, even though they're like they're what the pros would wear (laughs) and so people would think that I'd wanna wear them but my hearts just not in it to wear them at all. I've had them for years and years and years and they're something that I'll always have. EM: ‘Cause you said to me a while ago they were the first thing you pack... FP: Oh they absolutely, absolutely are. They've got like, special status those boots. It's just what you put value in, I just value them above anything, even though they're pretty worthless. They weren't a lot of money to start with and now they've absolutely had it. So it's not like I think 'Ooh, I must make sure the gold necklace is okay' - not that I have one but if I did... so no, the first thing I pack and I've moved house quite a lot, is to just make sure my walking boots were okay. EM: So where’s the furthest they’ve been? FP: Furthest... they’ve been French Alps, Chamonix that’s a good place cause walking round the mountains there you’re kind of crossing borders to different countries. It’s on the junction of Italy and Switzerland so that was really, really
good walking around there cause you end up in different countries. They have been to the Italian dolomites as well, me and those boots we have like a trust (laughs) I trust those boots cause I've worn them everywhere and I just feel like I know those boots as well. I wouldn't want to put on my new ones. It's really odd how you can feel like that about just an object. EM: So what kind of feelings do you associate or what memories do you associate with them? FP: Well, obviously being out there in the outdoors hiking, climbing... it's where I feel best. It's where my mind feels emptiest, it's where I feel strongest. It's... everything that I want to be doing, so obviously they represent that. Then there's also, which sounds quite odd, but the soles of the shoes have touched all these different places, so I suppose it’s a bit odd like, when somebody they might buy something that they're favourite pop star has worn and it's just a tee shirt but it's touched them and I just kind of suppose it's a little bit like that, those boots have touched those rocks wherever that may be so if I now put my hand on the sole of them shoes, it's kind of like I'm physically in them places. They're covered in mud and I'll never clean them I'd hate them to be cleaned, that'd be like 'no!' EM: Why’s that? FP: I just think like, the mud on them is from... it might be from the Lake District it might from Italy. It's really important to me they're not cleaned, like, if the boyfriend was to wash
them boots that's like a dumpable offence (laughs) they need to be left just how they are. They've got like an essence of the place still... EM: Like a preservation of the memories? FP: Yeah! Absolutely, absolutely. I mean I've got, I've even got photos of me all over the place in these boots. My new boots just sit there and I can't bring myself to wear them at all, I can't see me wearing them. EM: When's the next time you're planning on wearing them? FP: It'll be the English Lake District next. I'm long overdue a trip there. I normally go several times a year so yeah, that'll be the next one. I don't wear them, and I wouldn't wear them just to wear them down the street day-to-day. That wouldn't feel right. They're for those special kind of, for them moments. I wouldn't just wear them any old time. Like, my boyfriend wears his for festivals and things as well, cause they're good and obviously you're getting muddy and stuff but it wouldn't feel right for me so it's like 'Why aren't you bringing your walking boots?'... no, that's not right. So, no. That wouldn't happen, but I am seriously attached to them, to them boots. EM: So is that why they’re so special to you? Just because they go on this journey with you? Or...? FP: It probably represents the feelings I feel when I’m there... and the fact that it’s my absolute goal. That’s the sort of life I want to be living more of it. So it’s like a connection with that
I think. It's a hard one to explain, they definitely represent past as well. Like, past memories and associations with past people in my life that I did a lot of them trips with. So it's a bit of that as well I think. EM: So the boots have remained constant? FP: They have! How weird is that? (laughs) Yeah absolutely, absolutely. That's kind of the thing I don't like to say out loud, but yeah there’s a bit of that there as well. I do think it's kind of reflected a bit in my work though when I think about it more, because I think about these boots and it's kind of where they've been and what they've seen even though they're just an object.When I'm using such a thing as my grandfather clock in my last piece of work, I'm always thinking as well 'Whatwhere that had been... what that had seen' so, obviously who's house it was in and then obviously the family in that house would have been governed by the time in that piece so it's like, it's more than just an object, it's like... maybe, it's like do the objects almost see and have memory? EM: They have their own history. FP: Yeah absolutely. EM: Yeah. FP: So it’s more than just an object just there. EM: Yeah. Can you describe the boots for me?
FP: Okay. They are grey and blue suede. They are really rubbish branded boots and I do really like my hiking so everything else that I wear I buy new and I'm okay with that, you know. I don't wear the original jacket that I had first or anything like that and I would be conscious the brands on them. I like to have the nice, branded stuff but they're a rubbish brand. Falling to bits, some of the eyelets have fallen off so they don't even really tie up well anymore but I'm used to walking in them like that so I'll even climb in them like that cause I know how they are. EM: What size are they? FP: 4. EM: Dinky feet. FP: Yeah, dinky feet! EM: Describe what they feel like. FP: Well, I even get soaking wet every time I wear them cause they say waterproof and they were never were cause they’re a rubbish brand, so... soggy feet but, I trust them like I know what they feel like to wear so... so I’m okay hiking in them. EM: What would you feel like if they didn’t exist anymore? They disappeared? FP: Oh Gosh, I’d be so sad. Absolutely, cause when I knew they were going in this exhibition, could I have a big padlock
on the case? I wouldn't know why somebody would wanna steal them because they are absolutely had it and worthless but... but yeah to me I will always have them. I did think about making a case, putting them on the wall and then maybe that would make me wear my new boots. But, that's just a thought in my head that I can't bring myself to do at the minute. They are nice to have inside though in the house. It's like a... its memories. It's good motivation for what I want to be doing, it's a constant reminder. EM: What does it remind you of? FP: Oh, it reminds me of the mountains, the blue skies, the freedom and the feeling good. The clear mindedness. EM: Do they provoke memories of people? FP: Yeah absolutely. One particular person really. EM: Is it a good or a bad feeling when you think about it? FP: Hmm... (laughs) Dunno the jury is still out on that one. Questionable. (laughs) They are of far more value than anything with monetary value could ever have for me. EM: Is that because of the memories? FP: It’s the memories, it’s the memories and they just represent so much for me. Everything I wanna be doing.
EM: Do the people closest to you know about this object about these boots? FP: Well, the boyfriend does laugh because he's the one that bought me the new boots. (laughs) and bless him, he spent a lot of money on the new boots for my birthday. And they're still not worn. I can't bring myself to do it and it's getting so I'm gonna be offended him soon really. I do like the boots, they're nice boots, but they're just not my boots even though they were bought for me. They don't feel like my boots. I don't trust them boots either. EM: Why? FP: Cause I've walked everywhere and climbed everywhere in these boots. I've had experiences, the most scariest experiences on the mountain in them boots and I lived to tell the tale. I just trust them. I know exactly how they feel, exactly how they grip. Whereas if they were, even though they're rubbish boots, if I were to wear these fancypants boots... I don't know them. EM: Do you trust them more than people? FP: Do you know what? (laughs) That’s quite a good one! Yeah, I think I do! (laughs) EM: Why do you think that is? Just because they’ve experienced so much with you? FP: They have, it’s been so much. I mean, I’ve had some real lows but some real, real highs and when I’ve had the real, real
highs I've always been wearing them boots. EM: Literally highs as well. FP: Yeah! Literally highs, yes. There's been some amazing things where I'm looking around myself and I can't believe where I am. Amazing. And that's always been with them boots. EM: What do you think will happen to them, in the future when you pass away? FP: Oh they will be in my will. They just need to be kept, they always need to be kept. I'm trying very hard to, I wouldn't say very hard to drum it into Maisie (Fiona’s daughter) about the hiking and walking we go together and obviously she's a size 1 at the minute. But she must have children and she must also get them into hiking so I'm hoping that these really crappy old boots will pass down. They get to touch more places really. It'd be nice for them to be worn as long as they treasured them like they were a £10,000 worth of shoes... and they're not. EM: What if they stop being able to be used as shoes and they fell apart? Would you still like them to be taken to these places? FP: That would be really nice. It's a bit like, carrying people's ashes to places. It is, it is... I feel a bit odd sometimes to be talking about a pair of boots like this, people might keep... I don't know... locks of people's hair or... we all do it, have treasure things. They're souvenirs.
EM: These boots, are they something that you'd be happy to represent your life and yourself? FP: Absolutely, yeah. I'm slightly embarrassed of them when people look at them and think they are rubbish boots for mixed uses. But I think it’s the best thing to represent me. It's the first thing that I thought, you know without putting thought into it. Just springs into your head so you're not overthinking it. So yeah, I definitely think they represent members from the past but also where I want to be in the future as well. EM: Do they have any overlap with your artist practice? FP: Now I've been thinking about it... It's become more obvious when I use the found objects in my work. But not just the found objects, even the animals. It's about thinking of that as having a past and a past life. So I do think about what the animals have been... and what they've seen. And by having them there this connection to those places where they've been and then with the objects as well, even though they're just objects not living things they've also had a past life. Like I've got some lovely picture frames at home, just big, old, empty gold picture frames. I don't know what I'm doing with them at the minute but it's where they've been hung, what picture they're had in them... and then I can even picture the people look at them. That even interests me. It's like... an object, kind of a memory - it has seen things. And I think I use that in my work.
EM: You're kind of talk about objects in the way that they're quite human. FP: Yeah absolutely. EM: If this was going to represent your practice, your artist practice... would that be okay? FP: Yeah. I think so. EM: Do you think it's relevant? FP: Yeah I do. EM: Does your personal life overlap with your artist practice or are they two completely separate things? FP: No, I think everything in your life you can't help but put that into your work, really. So... it definitely is there. Memories are there... the way you feel about objects is there. Things that have happened to you can't help but shape your work. I don't think you can separate it. EM: Where do you keep them at home? Are they anywhere special? FP: At the minute they're in a box ‘cause I'm only living in my tiny, little flat. And and all the other shoes get bunged near the door in a heap. And I can't do that with those, so they're in a cupboard in a box.
EM: So they're quite precious aren't they? And yet when you actually go out, they become quite damaged. FP: Yeah I don't mind them getting muddy and anything like that. Not at all. I think if they got to the stage where I couldn't wear them anymore that'd make me feel a bit sad. I'd probably try stitching them or something. But yeah they're definitely to be worn. Unlike my other boots, they're pristine they're not worn at all. But they're not loved either. EM: And do you think they could be loved in the same way? FP: I don't think so. No. EM: Is that because you didn't buy them? FP: No, they haven't got the memories that these ones have. EM: But you could make more memories. FP: I could make new memories, but these already have them so I’d rather make more with these ones and they’d have all of it in there rather than just from 2016 onwards. I’m sure these boots would be repaired somehow. EM: Can you remember the first, journey you did with them? FP: That would be peak district, back in the day. EM: What year was that?
FP: Oh Gosh! I'm getting old. I've probably had these boots, being size 4, since about...14/15? And then I used to think at that stage that the Peak District was massive. But really it's very beautiful hills. It's lovely, it really is, I still go back. I still go back now. It's my day trip from here (Lincoln) cause it's really the nearest place that I'd go that I'd enjoy going hiking. So yeah. Back then. EM: Can you remember how that felt? That first journey to the Peak District. FP: Oh I absolutely loved it. I had been before with my dad as kids. Really young kids. But that's kind of like a vague, a vague thing that I could remember. So to go there a bit older so that you can remember it properly, it's just something I did and then never stopped doing. Never will stop doing. I do appreciate the fact that I'm healthy and that I can walk. I have considered in future when I can't anymore. You know, I do appreciate that when I'm hiking up the mountains, cause there's a lot of people that can't do that. EM: Can you describe how you feel when you're on those mountains? FP: Strong. It makes me full of energy even when I’ve been at home and felt down and rubbish.It’s… its freedom. I feel good about myself when I don’t normally, when I’m at home. I feel like I could take on absolutely anything. I try and carry some of it home after each trip. Cause obviously sometimes if I’m feeling down, which I do get... It’s the one thing that can bring me out of sometimes. So, I try and keep it going a bit at home as well, but it is quite hard. It’s like a flick of a switch of a mind-set and it’s the best feeling I love it. (laughs) At the Lake District, I go to Keswick at the Lake District and I have issues with like... oh I don’t know what you’d call it. Like, the sense of being at home. I’ve not felt at home since the first house that I grew up in. So we left there when I was like...
oh, I don't know...10? I never knew anywhere else not really feel like home. I've moved a lot, but Keswick, although I've never lived there, that's where, if people say 'Home is where the heart is' which sounds so cheesy, it's the only place that I ever feel at home. I know where all the shops are, I can even tell you how the supermarket is laid out. I go there and I feel I come home and I love it. So I always feel good there and I only ever wear those walking boots there, I don't take any other shoes. I've been there on new year. Them boots, they're on and they stay on the whole time. I just love it there, I just love it. So yeah. Keswick will be the next one, definitely. I love it. EM: So where you are now, do you not really feel at home? FP: No, I've not... other than going to the Lake District which is really hard, because I've never lived there. But I do go there, I don't know, six times a year sometimes. Other than there I haven't felt at home since I left, and that was Sheffield, my first house we lived in. EM: But your boots are comforting? Do they make you feel grounded? FP: Oh yeah, absolutely. They just lift my mood absolutely. But, I have never worn them around Lincoln, I don't feel like I could put them on around Lincoln I'd feel... I don't know why... they're just boots. I'd feel bad putting them on in Lincoln like, they shouldn't be worn in Lincoln. It's just walking down the street like, I shouldn't be doing that. So I don't know if they would make me feel better in Lincoln... I don't think it would be the same... No.
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