Her photography is candy-coloured hedonism but don’t expect any sugar-coated imagery with Maisie Cousins. From her acid-toned collages to her psychedelic pin-ups, this London-based artist is all about raw, female empowerment. In an interview with METAL, Maisie discusses female identity, sources of inspiration and the evocative power of her work.
I started blogging my images at the age of 15; I used to use blogspot and then moved on to tumblr. At the time I was finding school a crap place to be and so keeping a blog actually kept me interested in things. I would bunk off college to make things all day which sounds silly now.
I'm trying to limit the amount of inspiration I find online as I think it's too accessible and presented in a way that instantly looks polished. The way art looks on the internet is so different to going to a gallery or reading a book- sounds cheesy! But nothing is better than a book.
I’m often drawn to things I can get my hands on, I love to be able to make a mess and document it. I love edible things, and textures that the viewer would want to touch or taste. It's nice to take a photo that you enjoyed the experience of taking.
I haven't found the word for it, I want people to feel aroused but not necessarily in a sexual way- perhaps just motivated to put their hand in jelly or to roll around in some grass. I don't know, I guess I want people to feel an energy and to be involved.
Not that I can recall. I would be upset if I did as I think art that is made to shock is a bit boring.
My friends or people I find on the internet - usually Instagram.
It's awful, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. We're in a horrible position where too much damage has been done to female identity and we are struggling to reclaim ourselves let alone make radical progress. I have faith but I feel negative, and western issues with misogyny are just the tip of the iceberg.
I'm really critical and hate most of the photos I take until about a year later when I can see from another perspective. That's the problem with the internet; I want to upload my photos straight away. It's like I post the work to get away from it- I give the image to others and have them think about it so I don't have to anymore.
Collaging! I don't have much space to work in at the moment so I'm making lots of small collages and I'm obsessed with buying old books now.
I hope I don't get too serious and boring but I can feel myself changing and taking a calmer approach to everything, which is worrying me a bit.
