PLU Presents featuring Le Menteur
The PLU Presents series has been a fantastic opportunity for us to interact with other artistic organizations and independent creators all across the world. Another installment of PLU Presents was released this Friday featuring the University of Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture magazine, Le Menteur. Despite its shorter length, this PLU Presents felt more succinct: striking images of the crashing waves and bleak forests covered in hoarfrost, thoughtful interviews and perspectives on the current social circumstances, and – of course – art. Madeleine Piggot, Editor in Chief of Le Menteur, graciously offered to write a blog piece to accompany the release of “PLU Presents featuring Le Menteur” in which she gives some insight into the magazine, as well as one of the contributing artists.
This year, Le Menteur - The University of Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture magazine - is reflecting on the relationship between the arts, between artists, and between people, under our title ‘Art Re-Wired’. Using multimedia, art, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry our magazine (launching in June) will explore how a world limiting social contact is currently rewiring our definition of connection and collaboration.
In a world stalled by Covid-19 restrictions, our magazine, like so many other projects, has become entirely reliant upon technology. Our annually elected team has used this as an opportunity to reach out to diverse artists, and build relationships not only with them, but between ourselves. Whilst certainly a challenge it has also been inspirational to see Le Menteur living its theme like never before, undertaking new partnerships, and introducing new performative and discursive elements into the ever expanding folds of the magazine.
With the imminent launch of PLU Presents – Le Menteur, we thought this would be the perfect time to highlight one of the artists included in this edition of our magazine. Whilst we hope that our contributors have been inspired by our interpretation of the theme, this year we have also pushed to go beyond just finding out and appreciating our artist’s unique interpretations of our theme. To this extent, in the light of our focus on collaboration, we have endeavoured to get to know our artists and writers at a more personal level.
Below you can find an interview with artist and graphic designer Colleen Rose, but also, for the first time, expect to see an inclusion of our artists’ bios and their thoughts on our theme woven into Le Menteur 2021 itself.
Colleen Rose. Find out more about her, some of her projects, and her social media here.
Who are you and who do you write or make art for?
My name is Colleen Rose, I am a practicing artist and designer living in Detroit, MI, USA. I make art for everyone and also no one. Sometimes I make for myself and sometimes I don't think of it in that context at all. There are a lot of factors that go into the motive behind a piece, it all just depends really.
What importance has other people’s art had for you and your creative process?
I don't know if anyone can say that their creative process hasn’t been shaped by other creators. We all constantly borrow, draw from, or pay homage to each other. That’s not to say creative processes aren’t unique, they absolutely are, it’s just also all connected.
Have you looked at different ways of expressing yourself or taken on a new medium?
As someone who gets bored easily, I am always seeking out new media. I have my comfort media to turn to, like collage or printmaking, but I try to see how I can layer those into other processes as well. Lately I’ve been exploring 3D design and Risograph printing. I’m hoping to even combine those two in the near future.
How has your work developed over the last 12 months?
Having had more time on my hands than I typically do, I have been trying to take advantage of it by exploring new processes. Watching videos, taking online courses, anything that I might have written off in the past due to “not having time”. Also just working to produce on a more regular basis, again because I have had ample time to do so.
Where can we see your work?
I don’t always post everything I make, but if I do it’s normally on my instagram @euphoricrecall. I also have my online portfolio at colleenvrose.com and am working to keep that up to date!
Madeleine Piggott, Editor in Chief of Le Menteur. Thank you for your part in PLU Presents and writing the blog post!