Husk Bennet

How do you think nostalgia plays a part in your work?

In the modern age I think nostalgia is inescapable. Within the last two decades the world has taken on technology in a way that is inescapable. There is constantly a resurgence and disintegration within society, fashion trends, television, media & music. My work has always played with ideas of time and memories in various ways. I really love moments of time which are immersed in film & print - particularly within television. I really enjoy the periodic discomfort of unscripted television but there's more than it being a visual stimuli, I grew up watching reality shows like Big Brother & so did half the nation. I think there is a character of nostalgia that renders it constant - it's obviously a feeling which grows stronger and sometimes fades into the background noise, but it's unpredictable it's on a level with grief. It's a powerful feeling that can make you feel the water circling through the pump of a fountain, make you feel the sun on your back, taste the sour cream and temporarily and remotely put you somewhere you used to be - are no longer.

Why have you picked this colour palette?

I love colour, it's as immediate as it looks, I think there's something really special about blue markers. They are always the ones that stain whiteboards!! I'm much more invested in colour when I'm painting, but with drawing I always just choose what I want to write with. Sharpies feel so good to draw with even on cheap cartridge paper. They make such a good noise. Smell good too.

How does text effect your work?

I love using text in drawings as it can only try to communicate a message. Not everyone can read what you write but in the same vein not everyone can read what you draw - I view my own text based drawings and paintings as exactly that. I don't really have a need to obscure it because if I felt like I didn't want to share it, I wouldn't. I used to be reprimanded by teachers for my handwriting but now I think it's really special. It's my own font, even if people wanted to copy my aesthetics they'll never really be able to ace my handwriting. Unless they really want to. Like a doctor. Dr. Husk. I think text is fun, I never really consider myself to be a wordsworth but I like how recognisable words are. They're like the ultimate emojis.