Rebecca Farkas www.rebeccafarkas.co.uk

Artist’s Statement

Rebecca Farkas uses light and colour to transform objects and spaces, creating photographs, videos, animations and projections. Rebecca’s work responds to places, people, their stories and memories, often in site-specific, temporary installations. The atmosphere of a space is changed through projecting images into it: it’s like ‘painting’ a three-dimensional space with projections. Whether it’s a 30-foot- high projection onto a castle wall or an intimate office space, she seeks to produce a point of connection and a shared experience with the audience – always looking for a sense of wonder.

Rebecca’s recent work explores and updates the 17th century Memento Mori/Vanitas painting tradition; artists created paintings that gathered together objects, which could include flowers, fruit, vegetables, insects, skulls, books, clocks and so on. The translation of ‘memento mori’ is ‘remember you must die’ and the idea was to remind people that they should live their lives to the full. It’s a nudge about possessions and materialism that reminds us, ‘You can’t take it with you.’

Rebecca grew up in the circus, moving between towns and being educated on the road: this inspired a fascination with the transformation of different places and spaces and informed her journey into memory. After moving to Herefordshire with her family, Rebecca completed a BA (Hons) Fine Art at Herefordshire College of Arts as a mature student. She is passionate about helping to increase diversity in the arts, believing that art is for everyone, from all backgrounds.