A Little Peek Inside ‘Wendy House’ | Helen Carmel Benigson on her Art.

“My Pleasure”,  2009 – Still from a video by Helen Benigson.

After visiting the ’Prints Charming’ exhibition at Liberty, I was deeply intrigued by the little charming ‘Wendy House’ by artist Helen Carmel Benigson, so I decided to find out a bit more about her and about what her work is all about.

A0 Lightboxes 2009 – by Helen Benigson.

Helen Carmel Benigson is one of London’s hottest young
emerging artist, whose enigmatic, sexy, playful and colourful
work continues to attract and entice the viewers.

“Planes”, 2009 – Still from a video by Helen Benigson.

I find that her work seems to have a sort of multi-faceted effect,
provoking various reactions ranging from: a sense of voyeurism,
a mirror effect, the naivety and openness with which we embrace
love when we are young and  the playfulness and daring attitude that
comes with being forever young at heart.

Installation – 2009, 7 video projections, 3 televisions,
2 sound tracks and various objects and prints by Helen Benigson.

But what I find most fascinating about her art is that quasi subliminal
message that comes into my head when I look at her work which seems
to tell me: “Don’t be fooled by what you see, as what you think you see
may just be hiding what lies within…”

I absolutely love her pink monoprints series:

Other titles in the same series include:

Anything dairy
Je ne regretted rien
Late night supermarket shopping
Im so dirty
Glistening creamy milky sexy wet
Je suis la buff ting
Sucking and sugary
Oh my gosh
Waiting to be touched
The sugar that’s refined
Obsession and imagination
im addicted to your fantasy
in love obsessed impressed and distressed
I love you do you love me
Everything I touch it may turn to gold

and I loved her ’Milk Me’ piece -a film where she has warm milk poured
all over her for about twenty minutes –  which she showed at  Cocomaya,
a fancy chocolate shop off the Edgware Road in London.

In this fabulous exclusive interview for us, Helen shares
the inspiration behind her work and some of her favourite
things. Enjoy!

- Where are you from originally and how long have you been
making art for?
I’m originally from London and I guess I’ve been making art since
I was four years old. My favourite colour is still pink as it was then!

- Why art? And if not art, what would it be?
It’s art and it’s rapping. I’m also a rapper… but my dream
is to open a supermarket.

-How did you get involved with the Prints Charming exhibition
at Liberty? And which was your favourite piece?
My favourite piece was my Wendy House! - I made the piece
for my BA final Degree show at The Slade, and Liberty kindly
supplied me with the fabric to make it. They came to see the
piece and they loved it so much that they asked me to show
it in their exhibition ‘Prints Charming’.

I also adored Grayson Perry’s Liberty print fabric that he
designed for the exhibition.

- Who or what inspires you?
MTV, Israel, pink, flowers, soldiers, cupcakes, Eminem, Facebook,
sushi, tanning, baking…

- Who is your favourite artist?
Louise Bourgeois and Mia.

- If you were a work of art, which one would you be and why?
I would like to be a Louise Bourgeois ‘Insomnia Drawing’
because when I can’t sleep I think of her!

- Which is the most memorable and inspirational show that you
have been to and why?
That’s a really hard question. There are soooo many and I see
every show that I possibly can get to. I was recently in L.A. and
New York and saw lots of amazing art there.

“Rabi versus rapper” – 2009, still from video by Helen Benigson.

- In what gallery or Museum would you love to show next?
I’m really excited because I’m having an exhibition in December
in Cape Town, South Africa at the Irma Stern Museum. It is the
most beautiful space in the world. Before then I’m doing a couple
of things to coincide with the Frieze Art Fair in London.

- If you could invite 3 people to dinner (no matter from what era)
who would they be and where would you take them?
Eminem – I would take him for dinner in my bedroom (Sushi take away).

- Best ever trip? Where did you go, what did you do?
I love going to Israel. It is the hardest but most inspiring
place to be. My best holiday was Thailand with my boyfriend
– some of the islands are so so beautiful and so romantic…

- Best read?
I’m currently reading ‘Bright Shiny Morning’ by James Frey,
it’s about L.A. – the real side to L.A. that I didn’t see in the
background of the clubs, restaurants and shops…

- Best movie?
I saw The September Issue yesterday and loved it.

-Fave SMV pieces?
I love the Pansy Bow dress:

The heart tee dress:

and the gold architectural dress I WANT IT!!!!

-Thank you so much Helen it’s been lovely to have you, finally please
choose the song the song of the day.
Pleasure. The song is ‘Run This Town’ by Jay Z ft Rhianna and kanye West.

Links:
http://helenbenigson.com/
http://www.spanishmossvintage.com/

xoxo
Nonita

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Reading: A Little Peek Inside ‘Wendy House’ | Helen Carmel Benigson on her Art.