Caroline Smith
Writer
Personal Brief
Caroline Smith is an artist, writer and founder and co-host of Louche Women, a monthly talk show along with co-host Sue Kreitzman at the Poetry Place in Soho the third Wednesday of each month. She was an Escalator East to Edinburgh artist in 2014 with her one-woman show, Birdwatchers’ Wives which ran at Summerhall for the Fringe and toured to Colchester, Norwich and Chelsea Theatre. She has performed at ICA, South Bank, Tate Modern and Tate Britain. She is a former Teaching Fellow and has run workshops for RSPB (profiled on BBC Women’s Hour) and the National Trust. She is passionate about eco culture and how we can actively shift entrenched narratives and work against and outside of an increasingly homogenized culture.
Artists on your radar, shout them out!
Diverse crew love for Louise Bourgeois; Jenny Holzer; Patti Smith; Guerilla Girls; Michal Rovner; Claude Cahun (always, always); Vanessa Beecroft; Markus Schinwald; Michael Haneke; my Louche Woman co host Sue Kreitzman; and she of Feminist Disco Rachael House; Mem Morrison’s work is divine; the artist collective that is TAP in Southend…
Which is your number one location - and what's it best for?
Wherever I am, I try make it work creatively so it’s ideally less location and more mindset. At the moment I glide between Southend where my studio is at TAP and northwest London – those in between spaces create spacious chasms.
'Getting creative', what's it all about?
There is nothing better than a mix of imagination and creativity, especially when it comes on strong and leaves a temporary imprint. Better make. For me, it’s not about being within an institution, being particularly comfortable or dabbling with a few materials. It’s hard under this government to make work without subscribing to a business model. Creativity and the imagination are not for the faint hearted and you cannot professionalise them – without losing something. I subscribe to the notion that it is not a choice. It chooses you. Get ready.
Your Life, Right Now - what's the soundtrack?
A mash up of Benny Hill, Meredith Monk, The Goodies and 80s chart hits.
What is your idea of a jolly good time?
Right now? High tea at the Ritz or the Dorchester or somewhere old- fancy not new-lifestyle-fancy with one of those posh cake stands stacked sky high with fondant creations and whipped cream delights. Yum. Wearing vintage Jaegar, pencil skirt and skyscraper heels. Having seen some dizzy art. With amazing company. Why not.
What happened the last time you were a complete disgrace?
Err… everything happened we can sure of that - and that’s NOT for public consumption.
