Artist Interview: Emily Bushell

What effect has folklore had on the way you see the world?

I grew up hearing stories of mythology and folklore and playing fairies in the school playground. For me, folklore brings a bit of magic to an otherwise mundane life. I often bring a lot of the moral teachings of folk stories into my life, especially the importance of kindness and resilience when interacting with people or facing challenges.

What political messages from folklore resonate with you?

There are many political messages within folklore that continue to remain socially and politically relevant today. One of the main messages I take within both my personal and artistic practice is that of sustainability in order to reduce my effect on the environment. I always try to incorporate recycled materials within my sculptural practices what I later combine with my photography and where I can’t recycle a material, I source what I need from small or local businesses. Working primarily on location within my work also makes it essential that I leave the landscape as I found it to help preserve it as best I can.

Do you see folklore as resistance, and if so, to what?

Folklore has commonly been used as a method of protest and resilience throughout history. Moreso now, I think folklore has become a rejection of many modern ideas e.g. community over individualist ideology, sustainability and DIY over mass production/consumption. I believe folklore is (and should) bringing people together regardless of background through joy, hope, and entertainment. 

What role do folklore and speculative fiction play in our modern world? 

Historically, folklore and fiction have always been methods of entertainment but also a way to build a community together. These ideas have continued throughout the practice of many folk traditions and remain equally if not more important today. Folklore and speculative fiction often inspire joy and hope through their stories which may be why fantast remains one of the most popular genres.

Do you think of folklore as a thing of fear and warning or of mysticism and magic? Or both?

I think folklore can be both a thing of warning and magic. Many of warnings of folk tales of local landscapes were for the protection of the young or those who were unfamiliar with the local areas, designed to scare them for their own protection. At the same time, the idea of mythical creatures living within the landscape makes the world seem more magical and fantastical. However, it is always good to be wary for you never truly know what’s out there…

What do you hope the readers get from your piece?

The majority of my pieces are largely narrative driven to create worlds within my imagery that the viewer can immerse themselves in. I always strive to achieve sense of wonder within my work but also a slight ritualistic feeling through some of the folk and Pagan themes that I explore.

What are the themes you are exploring? 

A large portion of my work follows an exploration into contemporary Pagan practices but also, being a huge lover of history, many esoteric practices of the past. I often explore a lot of academic theories alongside my photographic work, such as my more recent investigations into the connection between the surrealism genre and esoteric practices.

What folklore traditions do you take inspiration from?

I take a lot of inspiration from a lot of costuming within many folk festivals, particularly the use of recycled materials (e.g. paper mache) to create sculptures and characters to use in storytelling or reenactments of classic folklore stories. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself as an artist/writer: 

I tend to describe my artistic practice as ‘visual storytelling’ rather than as strictly a photographer. Within many of my pieces, my focus is primarily on what story I want to tell within the visuals of my image and what physical elements are needed to create this narrative. The inclusion of sculptural practice in combination with photography has become an essential part to my artistic style, bringing a unique aesthetic to my work which blurs the barrier between fiction and reality. My work often features elements of my own Pagan practices in addition to folklore traditions as well as references to both art and social history.

You’re a forest-dwelling hag and you find an intruder in your garden. What symbolic plant, animal, or object are you turning them into and why?

I think would turn the intruder into a butterfly. Butterflies are typically harmless creatures symbolic of growth and renewal, they also are essential to pollinating plants so can help grow the forest of they’re going to intrude in it.

There’s a mysterious figure that lives near your village. Would you heed the warnings of the elders or venture into the unknown? And what every day object are you taking with you for protection?

Though I would like the believe I’m more adventurous, I would most likely listen to the warnings of the elders. The elders have been around for a while and likely know more about the figure than me.

See Emily’s artwork in our second issue, available via our website www.folkloricmag.com

You can also follow Emily on Instagram @emily_bushell_photography