LeftLion article - Artist Profiles

The artists featured in this issue’s Artist Profiles are part of the Backlit Studio Group, formed by a group of Nottingham Trent University graduates in 2008. The studios and gallery space act as a hub for creativity, with a dedication to experimental work and cross-pollination of artistic practices. The focus on working with film and video reflects their popular gallery and film programmess. Find out more at backlit.org.uk...

RACHEL EITE

What’s your artistic practice?

I work on projects based around the ideas I am exploring using video, audio, drawing, text and whatever works best. I am interested in the way we view the world, what we choose to perceive and what we miss. Film is a good way for me to explore this, it can be an abstract canvas on which we create our own narrative, like life I guess.

What inspires and drives you?

Asking questions and learning. I like to be challenged and I find art very challenging. I never seem to reach a point of total satisfaction with what I do and this keeps me constantly trying harder, I always seem to be searching for the answers, but the questions keep coming.

What’s your favourite colour?

That amazing shade of deep purple you get on a clear night before the sky goes black. It’s magical.

What’s it like to be an artist in Nottingham?

It’s a great city to live in as an artist because its full of undercurrents and hidden or quirky things. There are fascinating characters and interesting places, with so much going on arts and culture wise, both above and below the surface. You can never be uninspired here.

What does the future have in store for you?

That’s one of those things I’d rather not know! But art-wise, I’m working towards a residency in Liverpool in October that should be really exciting. In the meantime I’m looking at some smaller projects to work on over summer, and I really just want to keep making work and trying to figure it all out.