#BAGSIE is a collaborative project curated by Soapbox & Sons, art directed by Emma Taylor of Creative Advice Network and photographed by Jonathan Knowles. In February, ten illustrators and artists were chosen to take part. We each made a self portrait on a paper bag exposing some internal element of ourselves. These were slipped over our heads for a photo shoot in May. The results will be unveiled later this year in an exhibition. My #BAGSIE was a sparrows head constructed from paper bursting out of the bag.
Showing your insides on the outside was a fun and slightly tricky proposition. Something that interests me is showing force or fury from unexpected or mundane sources, a kind of inner voice. For example, my logo is a tiny rabbit who is growling, he’s fragile, but cheeky. To illustrate this yell from the meek, I made a paper sparrow’s head for my bag. Sparrows are a nice representation of this idea, they’re small, delicate, common, but can be rowdy or brave. Maybe the anonymity of a bag gives added courage to let inner feelings out as the bird’s head has bust through the front of the bag. The other important factor? I thought it would look funny!
Photos attached are mine of the construction of my #BAGSIE apart from the second image with the tan background, which is copyright of Jonathan Knowles.