Solo Exhibit Zoe Cilliers The City |
We Move But Ourselves Stay Still
Relief print with mixed media, 2019 |
A Bit About The Artist Libraries and books play an integral part in Zoe Cilliers’ life and art practice. Raised in a family of readers, books were always around waiting to be discovered. While working her way through the shelves of youth fiction at the public library and uncovering new finds in the family book piles, there came a moment when books were more than just words with pictures. The synthesis of text and image presented itself as not just an illustrated story but a narrative comprised of shapes, where the letters, sentences, paragraphs and text blocks were understood to hold their own space as shapes on the page. Zoe is a poet, printmaker and naturalist who finds connection and balance among her passions through observation and storytelling. When I spoke with Zoe she shared her thoughts on how storytelling makes information accessible. She expressed a desire to bring storytelling into the world of science, since it can reach a wider audience and possibly influence the way science is digested. The idea of applying the artistic mindset to communicate about science is a collaboration Zoe is advocating for in her ecology research. “The City” showcases Zoe’s storytelling through printed text and images. There is a hidden story in the letters of “The City.” Can you see it? |
Get your original signed and numbered print for $15/$10 for members here:
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"I articulate my storytelling which is based on my love of text and graphics and interweave it into being a naturalist. Science needs more storytelling." -Zoe Cilliers
Stories for Cigarettes A series of handmade books to be read during the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. Stories for Cigarettes are unique one-off books intentionally messy, intentionally designed and intentionally written for an audience who have only 5-8 minutes (depending on your drag) to immerse themselves in short poetic stories for contemplation. Written for Zoe’s sister over several years these personal poetic stories are shared for you to enjoy on your next smoke break.
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Gallery to BookZoe designed this edition of the PRINT gallery to be folded into a book to share her love of books with you. |
An Interview with the Artist
PRINT: How did you get started in printmaking?
Zoe: I discovered printmaking in art school in 2010 and found the focus on technical skills excited me at a time I was looking for structure. Printmaking was a craft and art school allowed me to explore that craft. It allowed me to join words with equal weight to images, and my brain felt good printmaking, as letters were just shapes to me. I went on to do an apprenticeship at Barbarian Press outside Mission, BC where I was introduced to the art, craft and intimacy of books and type. It was the first time I was around people who saw art and craft as a calling… it was so fundamentally part of their lives and who they are. They helped me trust myself to explore outside of art. PRINT: Who has provided you with creative inspiration? Zoe: I remember coming across Nick Bantock’s Griffin and Sabine stories when I was younger and realized the total synthesis of text and image, it was not like a comic book and definitely a defining moment. EJ Hughes, the westcoast landscape painter, with his graphic shapes and patterns, I can see the way he synthesizes shapes and colours. I’m currently listening to interviews with Mary Oliver on observing the natural world. I am interested in how she has distilled the connection between artist-scientist-naturalist and how she has articulated it for herself in storytelling. Science needs more storytelling. PRINT: Can you tell us about your show The City? Zoe: The artworks for the PRINTgallery either lead to “The City” or come out of “The City.” I carry stories and words with me for a long time. I have a real sense of belonging to them and them to me. When I make my books of stories and poetry, I intentionally choose the fonts, the layout and the colour… the text is part of the image. The pieces in this show were done at different times in different places but have all been about telling a story about places and people. |
Zoe finishing up her limited edition of 50.
No.2 PRINT gallery titled "The City" |
The City Zoe Cilliers Lino and mixed media, 2021
More about Zoe Cilliers
Follow @zoecilliers on Instagram
Thanks to Carolyn Howse from Hawk and Rose Press for the layout and design of this publication and to Digital Direct for the off set printing and this project wouldn't happen without the support of the CRD.
Follow @zoecilliers on Instagram
Thanks to Carolyn Howse from Hawk and Rose Press for the layout and design of this publication and to Digital Direct for the off set printing and this project wouldn't happen without the support of the CRD.
We acknowledge the generous support of the CRD arts commission for this project. |