Eileen Botsford
New Media Public ArtistCan you tell us your name and what you do?
I’m Eileen and I’m a new media public artist. What I’m doing at the moment is working on site-specific public art installations that incorporate new media, projection shows, net art pieces etc.
Are you a graduate?
I did a BA (Honours) in public art and design, and then I went off to do an MFA in Theatre Design at Slade, which is the school of fine art at UCL.
How did the BA compare to the MFA?
The MFA was at UCL (Slade), which is a very academic environment, which I loved and its great location. I was able to enjoy the MFA more and was able to work more simultaneously. But the BA was very useful. It was a good foundation. During the MFA, which lasted two academic years, I was able to specialise and to spend most of that time doing a proposal for the Athens 2004 Olympics opening ceremony. I was able to focus on one project throughout those two years, which was great in terms of understanding and exploring how to create something that big.
How did that come about? Was it advertised?
I created my own proposal for a small section of the opening ceremony, because I knew the event was happening and was interested in it. My tutors were set designers. They said, as long as you have an audience and a performance then they would consider it a set designing project. I was more interested in the public domain, rather than theatre. It went quite far - I presented to Jack Martin – which was the company who materialised the whole opening and closing ceremony, and the Greek creative director. It was great for me to do that. It was such an experimental idea, materialising it would be a whole different process. I was a really good opportunity to meet those people and talk with them and get feedback on my work.
What type of work experience did you have by the time you finished your studies?
By the time I finished my BA and MFA I had exhibited and worked in Greece and London, and worked on a public art project in France. How did those exhibitions come about? They were all self-initiated. I was doing a lot of photographic work during my BA and I initiated exhibitions called ‘The Washing’, which were all based on the washing of clothes. They were all images, photographic and using the computer, which I was getting into then. So I set up exhibitions mostly in Greece and here in the UK.
Was that through contacts?
I went to exhibition spaces and said "I want to do this" and I was given opportunities in a few places and in Siros which is the island where I’m from and another islands where the images fitted in with the places and the architecture.
What happened when you finished?
I was working during the MFA so it was really just a progression. Getting work wasn’t that much of a shock. There hasn’t been a point of realisation where I though I should get a job as I’ve been working freelance ever since.
Do you work individually or do you have a group of people that you always work with?
I take over projects and then I decide what is happening with the creative direction. If I need to then I work with other people like or animators, to materialise something bigger than I could actually create. But I monitor the creative direction and generally it is really hands-on.
How do you find doing funding applications?
Funding applications are a lengthy procedure. But once you get the structure of an application, in many ways you can use it again and again, if you understand how it works. It is just something that you have to do. There is no guarantee for finance for self-initiated projects. You have to work out how you are going to survive. It is fine to say you’re going to do something, but in the real world you have to make money from it. I’m not selling work like paintings, so I have to think of the financial side before I even start work on something.
Do you do any additional training?
I have attended a number of seminars and short courses, but haven’t had the time to commit to gain another qualification. It’s been very much just to get the experience. My work has quite a bit of pressure. It is hard to make another commitment. If there is a specific reason for doing it then I would invest the time. One thing I would be interested in doing would be a PHD, maybe in New York. It would depend on whether I feel I need it, as wouldn’t just do it to have it on my CV.
What is the industry like?
If you’re working freelance then you just have to dedicate as much time as you can, all your time in fact - to actually succeed. With any freelance job you do. It doesn’t really have to do with the industry. I hope it gets easier the more experience you have and the more projects you have behind you, and it is matter of achieving your own personal goals and succeeding in your own way.
Is yours a common job title?
I created my own job title. I don’t know anyone else who calls themselves a New Media Public Artist. I know other public artists working in different mediums, usually more permanent. I work on temporary projects, because of the new media factor. There are a lot of artists around but not that many saying that they specialise in New Media public art. It is just a title, I’m sure there are other people around doing the same thing. Is there anything you would have done differently? I can’t say that since, although I’m not ‘young, young’, I think I’m too young to say I would have done something differently. I hope I never have to say it in my life as I think it’s a waste of energy, thinking about what you should have done differently instead of investing that energy in changing your life from today onwards.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Working on an inspiring and well-financed public art project.
If you could give one piece of advice to students starting a visual arts BA what would it be?
If they are entering a BA take advantage of it fully, realise who you are and which direction you are going in. Early in your studies you realise which direction your career is going to take. You should take from your BA and your tutors, information that’s going to help you. When you’ve finished you have to be very brave, if you want to work in what you’ve studied and not end up doing something different just to survive. Get up early, treat your freelancing like a business and be very self motivated. Join all the mailing lists, which is where you find opportunities. Log on to your computer in the morning and already you’ll have access to several possible opportunities to work towards.
Is it something you would recommend?
I would definitely recommend it but I feel like you have to be very strong, very determined, and very brave and take rejection lightly. You have to take yourself more seriously than you do rejection.
Are you naturally confident?
I was too scared to do anything else because I knew I’d be miserable doing anything else. I suppose that has made me be confident. I thought "I don’t care, I going to succeed". That doesn’t mean stepping on people or doing bad things, it just means that you’re going to dedicate yourself fully to what you’ve decided you’re going to do with your life. Your confidence comes from being totally committed. If you work hard and you love your work you will automatically appear confident. If you’re not sure then it will show. You have to love what you’re doing. That’s why its so important to choose within the art industry a specific niche that’s yours, that interests you and then you’ll love it more and be more confident with what you’re doing.
