At Random: Amy Hilton

How does the fact that these pieces are unique in a series impact your work?

Nature and intuition play key roles in my work and thus things have a tendency to be spontaneous and ever-changing. Things seem to happen a lot by chance with me, and I am sensitive to the connections that this can inspire. Deeply influenced by the essence of the imperfect and the fragile, I have only ever created unique pieces.

How do you think design is evolving nowadays towards the field of contemporary art?

It probably helps that I have a very broad definition of art, one that could probably include those engrossing patches of sky, water or stone… I see the beauty of colour, shape, and texture in design and also in contemporary art. I think both are naturally aligned.

How are both interacting?

Both genres can coexist beautifully given a thoughtful context and curation. The principle behind the Random collection that brings together different disciplines, shows precisely how the two fields are able to interact, showing a great strength of harmony as a collection – allowing, for example, a sculpture to help inform a drawing and vice versa. Every single element of the collection comes into being through this interaction and thus enhances the viewer’s whole experience.

Why do we have those two words, fine arts versus visual arts, that have been separated? Do you think they should be interacting more?

I think it’s important to be innovative and experimental. I believe the two fields have been in close proximity, involved in a sort of dialogue long before we made a ‘separation’.

I have just returned from a trip to India – a world of images – sculptures in temples, likenesses of gods and goddesses used in rituals, paintings, mandalas or diagrams… a visual world, and a world of visions, of seeing. The sensitivity to this visual and aesthetic beauty is a fundamental Indian trait and, from what I saw, evoked a constant interaction between visual and fine art.

Is functionality an important consideration in your process?

If my paintings and drawings are functional, then they can exist to serve as tools to stimulate imagination and contemplation. In the series Songe de Pierre, I aim to draw the viewer in, calm them down – they function spiritually, a sort of mediation towards a deeper ontological awareness.

How do you perceive your work both as part of The Random Collection and as part of your overall production?

To produce a piece from the Songe de Pierre series, I undergo a very meditative process myself. It requires solitude and silence. This series has been fundamental in shaping my own creative destiny and I hope to be able to continue and develop the series through my life. I am proud that this particular series is part of the Random Collection.

Amy Hilton’s series Songe de Pierre is part of The Random Collection, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of TL Magazine. Launched at Art Brussels (19-22 April), it is always available at the Spazio Nobile Gallery in Brussels and will be at an upcoming exhibition at the Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk from October 18-22.