The Egg, The Womb, The Head and The Moon.

Author: Janet Griffiths

I am a multi-media artist whose practice spans photography, film and video, drawing and painting, installation, poetry and music and performance art. Creating constructed photographs and short videos my work deals with issues of domesticity and entrapment and explores the space between fantasy and reality. Following in the tradition of women creating in their own homes I base much of my work in the home-space and in familiar local landscape. Often featuring myself as performer I incorporate a variety of props and costumes to create new environments and identities. My work is influenced and inspired by myths and fairytales, popular culture and personal experience. Humour is a key feature; I confront the viewer with familiar scenarios, yet turn them on their head, forcing us to re-evaluate our relationship with the everyday. The imagery can be both poignant and unsettling. I am the mother of two (grown up now) boys aged 21 and 23. I have been a single parents since my boys were very small and whilst bringing them up mostly on my own was extremely tough: trying to juggle motherhood and an artistic career, we now have a lovely little close-knit family and a great relationship. My house was very male-dominated whilst they were growing up (football/video games etc) but now they both have lovely girlfriends the house is more balanced. Hopefully the future will produce grandchildren (which some of my friends already are). I have studied at Manchester Poly School of Theatre (theatre studies), at Manchester Metropolitan University  BA (hons) Fine Art:painting in 1996 and an MA in Fine Art in 2001. I have exhibited widely and have had films and videos screened throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. I am also a member of The Durds; an electronic research-based performance group who have performed and exhibited in various venues throughout the UK.