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| It's Not My Boyfriend's by Katie Corbin |
Katie Corbin is mainly a painter but also works in all areas of Art using a range of materials. She began her formal training studying Fine Art at the University of Portsmouth (UK) and graduated in 2009. For her degree show, she bought a Chinese 125 motorbike from a scrap yard and covered it in wrapped and knitted wool. The idea for this developed after she was inspired by Yarn Bombing, Elaine Bradford and Christo and she began experimenting herself with wool. During an assessment, Corbin's tutor asked how she was going to develop her work and jokingly Corbin said "I might wrap a motorbike!" Having no knitting experience prior to this, she taught herself to knit using YouTube tutorials and because of this, the motorbike not only shows the process of wrapping but the improvement of her knitting. After deciding to base her project on gender and stereotypes, it was named 'It's Not My Boyfriend's' because people assumed that it wasn't hers, which is the point of gender stereotyping. Following her degree, she trained as an Art teacher whilst continuing to knit and learning how to master to crochet too. Currently, Katie Corbin is planning new projects involving wool so watch this space!!!
Here is an interview with the artist herself, Katie Corbin and One Girls Wanderlust:
If you weren't an artist/designer, what could you see yourself doing as a career? I love teaching Art! Alternatively, I would like to have done set design or some form of creative writing.
What advice would you give someone trying to break into the industry? Be proactive and get networking! I volunteered at a local gallery, went to artist talks, visited local and national exhibitions, etc. It's so important to get you and your work out there. Talk to people - the best ideas come from the most random places!
Where is your favourite city to travel to and why? Venice in Italy! I went there in 2003 and visited the Venice Biennale, which was amazing! The architecture, food, culture, pace of life...everything was just so beautiful. I loved visiting Murano (venetian glass island) and Burano (lace making island).
Who is your favourite artist and why? I have quite a few but one of my favourites is a Brazilian artist called Cildo Meireles. He creates conceptual art, installations and sculptures which are fantastic! I went to an exhibition of his in Tate Modern and I loved how engaging it was. The work was quirky, inspiring and interactive with clever concepts.
If you could make anything in the world, time and money no limit, what would it be? I think it would have to involve some form of yarn bombing on a massive scale. Maybe knit/wrap an entire gallery...Tate Modern perhaps? I'd love to do something that involves knitting enthusiasts everywhere to join in...maybe an event to rival Anthony Gormley's 'Fourth Plinth'
Describe yourself in one word! Animated
