Maggie Ayres - it's personal...

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For nearly 5 years, I've been the one in this family who blogs. Rogan has dabbled, Maggie has looked on with bemusement and Meg has remained blissfully unaware.

But no longer do I have a monopoly on this interaction with the wider global online community.

Maggie has now started her own blog – Acceptable Flesh

Many of you might know she is an artist who works with texture, light and colour to create extraordinary works of abstract art. But there is a great deal of emotional energy, sociological thought and inner conflict that feeds into her artworks.

And now she is developing a new body of work, profoundly influenced by, er… bodies, and how society deems what is acceptable and what is not, and how it impacts if ours is in the wrong category.

Maggie has set up her blog to explore her thoughts and ideas in a more public space, inviting input from anyone who wishes to join her on her journey.

So by way of an introduction to Maggie, her way of thinking and her style of writing, I asked her to guest blog here.

So without further ado, I introduce you to Maggie Ayres – artist and love of my life

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I have to say that I am somewhat in awe of Kim’s level of self-effacing and open honesty.

This has sometimes been the cause of much jaw-dropping on my part – “How can you write that???”

I am by far the more private, and prefer to keep the darker facets hidden. But with Kim’s example of “the truth” in mind, I write here with a degree of openness that I know is crucial for any self-exploration.

Making art is a very personal act for me. My relationship with subjects and themes is intense and emotional. I can’t imagine any other way of working. I have been criticised for displaying work which is “too personal”. Certainly I know that my abstract expression is not to the taste of everyone.

My hope is, that by trying to come from an honest and authentic self-centred source, viewers may be able to identify with my issues and find some solace - we are not alone.

“Acceptable Flesh” is primarily about my struggle to deal with my socially unacceptable body. I have neither been sublimely delicate and waiflike, nor seen myself as lusciously buxom and desirable. I am, and always have been fat, from babyhood to the post-menopausal present day.

Most importantly, this is not an invitation to overweight, middle-aged women to unite and wallow in the injustices of unfair and unkind treatment by society.

What I want is for all of us, irrespective of gender, age, race or weight to question a society that favours artificial, flawless youthfulness, when it is an insidious illusion, which damages, devalues and disables.

Being “less-than” is not enough. That’s why I do “personal” art.

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Altough I am of course extremely biased, I would encourage you to take the time to leave a comment and/or visit Maggie’s own blog:
http://maggieayres.blogspot.com

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