With an approach deliciously described as ‘hedonistic and self-satisfying’, artist Maisie Cousins draws upon emotive personal experiences to explore themes of power, femininity, nature, technology, the body and indulgence in her recognisable compositions. Here, after shooting a conceptual story on cosmetic dermatology for the Wallpaper’s October 2022 issue, she tells us about the importance of being impulsive and the egg cups that made her feel something.
For the October 2022 Issue, Maisie Cousins photographed our story on how Dr Frances Prenna Jones has transformed cosmetic dermatology with her holistic approach
Wallpaper*: Describe your style and process
Maisie Cousins: I used to set out with a little shopping list of ingredients of different textures and colours and then see how it turned out together on my kitchen table. But now I find I’m using things that are already there rather than constructing.
W*: How did you bring your way of working to our October 2022 Issue story on cosmetic dermatology?
MC: It’s always been quite personal the way I work, a bit like a diary. Just collecting photos in no particular order or projects. I’ve always wanted to be a photographer who works in projects – I guess that could be a hangover from university but I could never do it. I need to make images often and not really about anything in particular; [it’s] just a way of decompressing everyday things for me.
If I’ve thought about it too much before I’ve made it, it’s ruined a bit for me. I need it to be more instant and impulsive.
W*: What do you think is the most interesting thing happening within photography now?
MC: You know what I don’t think it’s a photographer’s job to know what’s interesting right now. I’ve always felt out of the loop and relied on gallerists and editors to tell me that. I’m not ashamed! I’ve been so fortunate to have gotten represented by Hannah Watson at TJ Boulting gallery. I just blindly go with what she’s working on really.
W*: What’s on your radar?
MC: There’s an antiques/junk shop near me and I love to browse there. I love tat. I love bits and bobs and collecting useless things. I guess it’s a bit of nostalgia but I like to be transported a bit – not necessarily to another time but just that old feeling of certain plastics and objects. I bought some Bakelite egg cups and they truly made me feel something. I like to overhear conversations and I like gossip. I love hiding in that shop and eavesdropping on conversations between the owner and people coming in with what they think is valuable tat, and she tells them ‘no, it's not’. I really love old plastic. And memorabilia from old resorts or bars. Love a John Hinde postcard too.
W*: What’s next for you this year?
MC: Thinking about scale, bigger scale in the first place. I love to shoot macro and blow it up but I’m feeling quite compelled to go wider and bigger. Maybe it won't work out! I also want to make more physical one-off pieces. I have two solo shows next year so let’s see… I’ve got to get working.
-
First look – Bottega Veneta and Flos release a special edition of the Model 600Gino Sarfatti’s fan favourite from 1966 is born again with Bottega Veneta’s signature treatments gracing its leather base
-
We stepped inside the Stedelijk Museum's newest addition in AmsterdamAmsterdam's Stedelijk Museum has unveiled its latest addition, the brand-new Don Quixote Sculpture Hall by Paul Cournet of Rotterdam creative agency Cloud
-
On a sloped Los Angeles site, a cascade of green 'boxes' offers inside outside livingUnStack, a house by FreelandBuck, is a cascading series of bright green volumes, with mountain views
-
Felicia Honkasalo on creative obsessions, gothic horror, and the sci-fi world of AI photographyExplore the vision of Helsinki-based artist Felicia Honkasalo in ‘Through the lens’, our monthly series spotlighting photographers who are Wallpaper* contributors
-
Cyprien Gaillard on chaos, reorder and excavating a Paris in fluxWe interviewed French artist Cyprien Gaillard ahead of his major two-part show, ‘Humpty \ Dumpty’ at Palais de Tokyo and Lafayette Anticipations (until 8 January 2023). Through abandoned clocks, love locks and asbestos, he dissects the human obsession with structural restoration
-
Year in review: top 10 art interviews of 2022, chosen by Wallpaper* arts editor Harriet Lloyd-SmithTop 10 art interviews of 2022, as selected by Wallpaper* arts editor Harriet Lloyd-Smith, summing up another dramatic year in the art world
-
Yayoi Kusama on love, hope and the power of artThere’s still time to see Yayoi Kusama’s major retrospective at M+, Hong Kong (until 14 May). In our interview, the legendary Japanese artist vows to continue to ‘create art to leave the message of “love forever”’
-
Antony Gormley interview: ‘We’re at more than a tipping point. We’re in a moment of utter crisis’We visit the London studio of British sculptor Antony Gormley ahead of his major new show ‘Body Field’ at Xavier Hufkens Brussels
-
Rashid Johnson in Menorca: a journey through migration, longing and togethernessWe visited Rashid Johnson’s Brooklyn studio ahead of the artist’s show at Hauser & Wirth Menorca, which contemplates drift – physical and emotional
-
Step inside the kaleidoscopic universe of Pipilotti RistSwiss artist Pipilotti Rist, who headlines Wallpaper’s November 2022 issue, has transformed the way we see, with a poetic yet playful practice spanning three decades. Here, and in a special portfolio, she reveals how she has liberated video art from its conventions, imbued the digital realm with emotion, animated public spaces, and harnessed the healing powers of colour
-
Gathering: the new Soho gallery blending art and social activismGathering, the newest gallery resident in London’s Soho, will focus on contemporary art exploring systemic social issues. Ahead of Tai Shani’s inaugural show, we speak to founders Alex Flick and Trinidad Fombella about their vision for the gallery
