Jadieeleanors practice explores the role of cultural and scientific institutes in portraying fact and artefact, often following themes of natural history, viewing objects and animals as advocates for humans as a species and how we view the the visible and non-visible world around us.

 

Jade Eleanor Simpson was born a twin in Boston Lincolnshire and soon moved to Stoke-on-Trent where she has since remained and become based. She studied at NULC and moved on to attain her first class honours degree in Fine art at Staffordshire University. Since then Jade has won New Art West Midlands award and gone on to do residencies and workshops either solo or for organisations such as B Arts and Appetite. Most recently she has formed part of the collective known as TAME Studios based in Middle-port Pottery and is currently based in London. 

Individually her practice is deeply rooted in natural history. Jade is eternally fascinated by the natural world and the way we as humans encapsulate it, be it through imagery or physical preservation, like what you may find in a museum. As well as producing 2D studies in various mediums she uses ceramic, felt and fabric to produce specimens, in a sense creating faux taxidermy. 

 

''Within my practice I like to think I become an amateur natural historian, a sort of pseudo-scientist and the curator of a modern day wunderkammer, creating fictional artefacts and specimens. Initially I start with sketches, capturing the essence of a creature’s form to translate into sculpture. I reflect upon methods used by natural history institutes and the conventional museum, including the way artefacts are collected, prepared and displayed. I aim to present the fascination of natural forms and textures and the desire to touch something you often can’t, like that instilled by taxidermy but in a way that is more ‘friendly’ to those with an aversion to mortality. I produce taxidermy for the modern home, reinvigorating the wunderkammer’s and micro-museums of the 18th century household and attempt to reconnect the modern human to nature.''

-Jadieeleanor