I'm OK
Elizabeth Hobbs
|
June 11, 2020
Who is Lizzy Hobbs, the artist with all her urges, ambitions, and maybe even fears? I’m an animator, living in London. I like to think about animation, and what an artist might be able to do with those 25 frames per second. I always try to make my practice enjoyable by making sure that I am working on a relatively short project, exploring new materials, and that there is room for being playful and making mistakes. My ambition is to retain this feeling of joy and anticipation when I’m making my work and to make many more films in the future. |
Photo credit: Joe Lawlorsm |
"I’m OK" is beautiful. What makes this work special from your point of view?
Thank you. When I was making the film, I was experimenting with how I might relate the different strands of this dramatic story by creating a kind of rhythm within the frames, and between the shots and the musical score in the timeline. The animation mostly came from my improvising little scenes from Kokoschka’s drawings, prints and diaries and cutting them together in different ways.
What type of activities have you been doing these days to ensure you’re ok?
I’ve been doing a lot of gardening in our community garden, I’m glad that its spring, there is plenty to do. I’ve also been playing spirited games of swingball in the communal car park with my family and neighbours.
What art venues are you looking forward to return to once we’re back to normal?
Here in East London, we have so many fantastic art, music and theatre venues; I love the music venue Cafe Oto and the Close Up Cinema in Brick lane and there is a series of events called 'Music We Like to Hear' that I hope we can enjoy when we have a little more freedom.
Do you think there will be long-term changes to the way art is created and shared?
Yes, I feel that there will be. I think it’s been really liberating in some ways to learn that we can deliver cultural or educational offers to a wider audience, and perhaps this could be combined with activities that are staged or delivered to a local live audience.
#WhatMatters most especially during these times of uncertainty?
Neighbours.
Are there any virtual experiences you’ve enjoyed more while quarantined?
I’ve really enjoyed making little teaching videos to try and teach aspects of animation to my students without seeing them in person. It gave me a chance to experiment with new types of animation and to try to communicate simple techniques that students could use at home to continue to make their animated films without the technology that they had access to at University. I’m not sure if the films were successful though!
Is there a word or expression that you’ve heard recently and it has stuck with you?
Yes, George Floyd’s final words: “I can’t breathe”.
What’s a thought that keeps you motivated or optimistic about what’s to come?
Watching the huge number of largely peaceful protests unfolding around the world following the murder of George Floyd makes me feel hopeful that this is finally the right time for long overdue structural change and a collaboration between all communities to tackle systemic racism.
Any new tracks you’ve added to your playlist that you’d highly recommend?
It’s an old track but I’m listening to ‘Two Wooden Spoons’ by ‘This is The Kit.’
Thanks!
It’s my pleasure, thank you for asking me.
Thank you. When I was making the film, I was experimenting with how I might relate the different strands of this dramatic story by creating a kind of rhythm within the frames, and between the shots and the musical score in the timeline. The animation mostly came from my improvising little scenes from Kokoschka’s drawings, prints and diaries and cutting them together in different ways.
What type of activities have you been doing these days to ensure you’re ok?
I’ve been doing a lot of gardening in our community garden, I’m glad that its spring, there is plenty to do. I’ve also been playing spirited games of swingball in the communal car park with my family and neighbours.
What art venues are you looking forward to return to once we’re back to normal?
Here in East London, we have so many fantastic art, music and theatre venues; I love the music venue Cafe Oto and the Close Up Cinema in Brick lane and there is a series of events called 'Music We Like to Hear' that I hope we can enjoy when we have a little more freedom.
Do you think there will be long-term changes to the way art is created and shared?
Yes, I feel that there will be. I think it’s been really liberating in some ways to learn that we can deliver cultural or educational offers to a wider audience, and perhaps this could be combined with activities that are staged or delivered to a local live audience.
#WhatMatters most especially during these times of uncertainty?
Neighbours.
Are there any virtual experiences you’ve enjoyed more while quarantined?
I’ve really enjoyed making little teaching videos to try and teach aspects of animation to my students without seeing them in person. It gave me a chance to experiment with new types of animation and to try to communicate simple techniques that students could use at home to continue to make their animated films without the technology that they had access to at University. I’m not sure if the films were successful though!
Is there a word or expression that you’ve heard recently and it has stuck with you?
Yes, George Floyd’s final words: “I can’t breathe”.
What’s a thought that keeps you motivated or optimistic about what’s to come?
Watching the huge number of largely peaceful protests unfolding around the world following the murder of George Floyd makes me feel hopeful that this is finally the right time for long overdue structural change and a collaboration between all communities to tackle systemic racism.
Any new tracks you’ve added to your playlist that you’d highly recommend?
It’s an old track but I’m listening to ‘Two Wooden Spoons’ by ‘This is The Kit.’
Thanks!
It’s my pleasure, thank you for asking me.