Amy Begent

Upon recent self-reflection, I have learnt that my own sexuality is not confined to direct acts relating to it, but rather I feel it involves my whole lived experience. Since reaching this conclusion my work has become an exploration of the past in which my relationship with my dad is significant. I extract key moments, from the personal memory of ‘coming out’ to him, to the more relatable memories of bike rides and picnics. It is an ode to self-acceptance and an ode to my Dad in aiding that process.

My animation captures a world of vibrant colour and pattern where the people are comical puppets who never change clothes, and the sceneries are miniature sets that are forever inviting. Such particular style and presentation ensure that although the spoken narration may not always be light-hearted, there is always space for it to look and feel both warm and welcoming.

All my practical processes have been deliberately chosen to extend underpinning themes of nostalgia, sexuality, and memory. Inspired by the exhibition Queer Threads at Lohman Gallery, I incorporate needlework to create puppets, and craft material to make sets. I subsequently utilise traditional and nostalgic techniques such as embroidering, sewing and miniature model-making. Furthermore, the incorporation of a rhyming narration, accessible childhood content, and the method of stop motion animation (prominent in the 1970’s) also connotes this nostalgia, as well as memory. Therefore, my animation, in its content and execution, holds a sense of innocence which is comforting and reminiscent of something from a past.

Through my studio work and dissertation writing, my practice has become informed and confident. I plan to continue developing my stop motion animation skills, perhaps through a master’s degree, and hope to venture into the animation industry.