Joya: AiR / Marie Smith / ENG

‘I came to Joya: AiR with little expectation and was pleasantly overwhelmed by the beauty that I encountered, the stillness was much needed and being here provided me with a great prompt to start my year. Everyday I woke up with a compulsive need to walk and explore the area around me, I had not done this in some time and I felt at ease within the landscape which was expansive and forever providing me with new ways of framing my photographic practice. 

After walking round for a few days I started to feel at home and appreciated the rarity of being able to walk and feel safe in an unknown place, the peace and tranquility was liberating. I also made some sound recordings and I hope to incorporate this into my work.

I was also met with kindness and support by Simon and Donna, who were warm and generous with their time. I enjoyed their insight into the landscape and really admire what they are doing at Joya: AiR. I also enjoyed spending time getting to know the other artists at the residency and felt that I had made connections that will hopefully last a lifetime. Leaving Joya was emotional, but I will always remember my time there as the spark that motivated me to get back to myself at a time when I really needed to feel a connection with myself and my practice’. 

Marie Smith (She/Her)
Visual Artist/Writer

Marie Smith is a visual artist and writer born, living and working in London. Smith graduated in 2017 with a MA in History in Art with Photography at Birkbeck, University of London. Marie is undertaking an MPhil/PhD at UCA Farnham in Photography from September 2022. Marie’s practice incorporates text and digital and analogue photography as a form of visual language. Marie’s experience with anxiety/depression has informed how she addresses identity, nature, environmentalism, mental health and wellbeing in her practice. Marie is a member of Women Photograph. She is an Associate Lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London and Kingston University London.

Website: https://www.marieesmith.com   

Instagram: @marie_elaina_