Tim Collard: Socially Distanced

My work primarily consists of abstract collages and sculpture, exploring my identity and place in the world I live in. Since the pandemic hit in 2020, my fascination with the depiction of the human form began to re-emerge unexpectedly and tentatively within my work, particularly in the 'Socially Distanced' series. It manifested itself and conjured up feelings of solitary confinement within our homes during lockdown. It allowed me to explore spontaneity by creating new worlds of my own: new textures, layers, shapes, and in particular colour.

My enjoyment of the landscape, and in particular the weather has indirectly influenced my work. Growing up and living in Chipping Norton, and being a dog sitter, I get to spend quite a bit of my time outside. I love how the external environment affects animals and people’s behaviour, influences our moods and how we go about our everyday lives. During the first months of lockdown the weather was glorious, which aided in the development of this recent work. I created my own internal landscapes to explore while the external landscape remained out of bounds.

The sculptures in this exhibition developed when I rediscovered a photograph I took in Rome, whilst studying Foundation Art in Banbury in 2004. I came across a window full of empty dolls heads, which was intriguing and a bit creepy! My sculptures are a response to this memory – but rather than displayed in a window, some of my ‘heads’ are in cages, which again explores being in lockdown, and feeling confined both physically and mentally within internal spaces.

I studied Surface Pattern Design in Swansea which allowed me to explore and experiment with many different materials, and started a love affair with experimenting with different processes. I then went on to study an MA in Fine Art.