My name is Prudence Illingworth/Prudns. I am a multidisciplinary artist and musician working on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country. I grew up on a farm in Geelong and moved to the big smoke to study Anthropology at Melbourne University in 2015. I started working full time and hated the grind, so I decided to become the artist and musician I'd always wanted to be. This year, I have just released my debut EP 'Tinka' filled with self-produced, hyper-pop beats. I am also gearing up to do my first solo exhibition in Naarm which will feature a number of paintings using found materials and hopefully a sound installation.
Your artwork is so vibrant and captivating, what is your work about & what medium do you primarily use and like to experiment with?
Currently, I am working with acrylic paint, ink, brushes, etching tools, wood, nails, canvas, and a variety of different found and second-hand objects. Most of my materials are recycled from hard rubbish or from second-hand stores. I like to find things that have been discarded or pre-used. I feel it adds to the materiality and personality of the work.
At the moment, my style of art making is 'expanded painting’ - an intersection of painting processes with mixed media, and sculpture. I am an embodied person, so when I create I really get down and dirty. I break, flatten, destroy, repair, try and do the opposite of what I want to do just to see the outcomes…I do these processes until I feel the work has found its right expression.
My art doesn't really have one particular meaning. They are like observations or studies. They are inspired by things I’ve seen, bits of feelings, slices of perceptions of people around me, politics, ideas that have come into my head at the time of making. Sometimes even self-portraits.
Do you feel your practice changed over time? What factors inspire change?
My practice continues to change as I develop as a person. I find it hard to focus on one thing, one style, one way of doing… my art tends to change according to my mood. Talking to other artists is always extremely inspiring. I was fortunate enough to do a mentorship with Trocadero Art Space this year and my mentors Caoife Power and Daniel R Marks have really helped bring some fresh energy into my practice. I completed the Graduate Certificate of Visual Art at the VCA in 2020 and I met so many wonderful creatives of different ages, and it really helped me commit to being an artist.
You’re also an amazing singer/songwriter, do your two practices inspire each other?
My music and art are intertwined in some ways, and different in others. When I’m making music, the audio effects, recordings, and lyrics are like the paints and paintbrushes, and I can create and explore in the same way as if I was painting on a canvas. However, some days I am in either a ‘painting mood’ or a ’songwriting mood’, so they do have a distinctness and separation as well.
I am currently creating a sound installation using field recordings from around my neighbourhood, affecting them, and warping them to play with ideas of space, place, and time. I will hopefully have the opportunity to show this in some form in 2022.
What is the most exciting thing that has happened in your music career?
Releasing my EP ’Tinka' in November 2021 was the most satisfying music project so far. I feel a great sense of personal achievement as it was a difficult year in lockdown and it took a lot of focus and determination to complete. I feel like the end product is a really honest and authentic portrayal of where I am at. So to have something out that really marks this point in time feels right. My housemates helped me a lot throughout the process. They took photos of me in the backyard for the EP cover, helped edit them, and directed the music video for ‘Leave The Light On' in the laneway out the back of our house. It was a real team 'DIY job’. You don’t need a big budget to bring your ideas to life!
Tell us a little about your new EP!
My EP ’Tinka’ was written, recorded, and produced in my backyard shed during lockdown. It has 5 tracks called ‘Fairies', 'Heart Attack’, 'I Don't Make Promises', 'Leave the Light On', and ‘Lies'. They are songs about my experiences, memories, reflections, and relationships in my life. ‘Fairies', I released as a single prior to the full EP and it was inspired by my strong connection to fairies as a child. I like that the first track is about my childhood and starts at the beginning of my life. The vibe of the EP has been described as ‘hyperkinetic pop’ and it features a lot of dnb beats, synths, and anthemic vocals. It is very heartfelt, imaginative, and honest.
Is there an emotional connection to your work?
Yes. I am very emotional and empathetic. I really can't make things devoid of my emotion, it would be really difficult for me!
What is next for you?
Booking in my first solo exhibition. Releasing new music. Playing live gigs. Hopefully travelling at some point. Working on my mental health. Living well. Walking my dog.
Where can the viewer see more of your work?
You can follow me on social media and keep up to date with my gigs, exhibitions, and new music for 2022. I'm particularly present on Instagram @pru.art (Art) and @prudns_ (Music). If you're not a social media fan, you can look at my website and subscribe to my mailing lists: prudenceillingworth.com (Art) and prudns.com (Music). You can stream my EP ‘Tinka’ on Apple Music, Spotify, and Soundcloud. And definitely come along to my solo exhibition in 2022 once it’s announced! Always up for a chat if people need help or just an art friend too :-P