Interview: Molly Richards
Luca Curci talks with Molly Richards during CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2021, at THE ROOM Contemporary Art Space.

Series ‘Six’ approaches photography from a meditative angle. With the word reasoning with a personal mantra I was working with during the project. The series stands to provide viewers with an invitation for the spectator to distance themselves from reality and focus on the self and their surrounding environment. Something that is rarely achieved within our technological era. The notion of process heavily influences ‘Six’, with it being prominent within both the meditative and photographic practice. Here, process is key in exploring meditative spaces to convey how awareness, focus and time are prominent in inspiring enlightenment. As a result, the self will progress, like the print which transforms also. This is present within the darkroom, where ritual and focus mimic the meditative routine that stands heavy within the space.

Luca Curci – According to you, what makes a good photo? Which details do you focus on?
Molly Richards – If it makes me question how it was created then I feel the engagement between myself and the photo is immediately at a place of connection, so I’m now working with the photographer to understand the image in my own way. To me, what makes a good photograph is one that poses questions, it feels more collaborative between the viewer and the image that way.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
MR – Meditation and yoga have been a part of my daily ritual for about four years now. But back when I was first practicing it while studying my BA from Manchester School of Art, I found a link between the meditative and the photographic practice and the three keywords: Focus, Process and Duration. The darkroom, for example, is home to these themes and I initially explored this link out of my curiosity around the meditative and photographic relationship.

LC – Which art themes do you pursue? What is your preferred subject, if there is any?
MR – Currently I am working on something a little bit different from my usual style. I’ve sound solace within the world of interactive art and have adapted my use of photography through more of a digital form. However, everything I work around always links back to that of Focus and Process.

LC – Do you use art to express something in particular? Is it like your medium of expression?
MR – I use art as a way of escapism, being able to get completely lost in the image-making process is truly a gift I feel. It’s more of a tool I use to take me away from my immediate reality for a little while.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
MR – Being an artist in today’s day and age is interesting.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the festival’s theme?
MR – Through the notion of exploring the relationship between a space and the art itself. In my case, it was through the link of the meditative process that enabled me to engage with a type of space in a much more contemplative way.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
MR – The exhibition contains darkroom prints from my series ‘Six’. It was my first exploration around the relationship between the meditative and photographic. Within the series, the process is explored to convey how awareness, focus and time are prominent in inspiring enlightenment. That act of progression that comes from this flow is present within the treatment of the darkroom print and its making.

LC – What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP?
MR – ITSLIQUID GROUP is brilliant to help build networks, encourage creative conversations and influence a generation of aspiring artists. The way it works with its surrounding location is inspiring and great to be a part of.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
MR – Yes, I really loved this opportunity and the help provided by the team has been of such a high standard. It’s been great building contacts who hopefully I can stay in touch with and work with again in the future.