Q&A: Cut, stick and provoke...collage artist finds voice in lockdown

Tuesday 09 March 2021

From provocative collages inspired by 80s Italian ads and Super 8 films of a street artist at work, one islander saw his creativity flourish during lockdown.

Jake Mullins is showing his work for the very first time at Common Ground, a café based at Red Houses, as part of a partnership with local collective RampArts Jersey.

While most galleries and museums were closed, RampArts set up a ‘Revolving Wall' initiative which sees the work of artists from the collective on display at the café.

Video: Jake filmed local street artist Glen Fox at work on a mural for his barber.

Jake, who is also a videographer, has two of his films featured on RampArts’ website.

Express caught up with him...

Can you tell us about your work?

When lockdown happened, I was doing my exams for university. I got a bit bored and I bought a Super 8 camera and started fiddling with that. I just wanted to go out and make some film.

When I eventually got back to Jersey from London last summer, I just got started on filming. The videos came from being so bored and wanting to get back out again.

Pictured: One of Jake's collages.

I also started the collages during lockdown. I bought these Italian photo magazines that are really old, from the 80s, I think. I study Creative Advertising and Marketing so I thought they would be good for inspiration for some of my projects. Adverts back in those days were really cool. I scanned them in London, and I got some inspiration in lockdown and started to work on them.

Before university, I had mostly stopped doing art.

I actually went to uni a couple of years later than other people. I was working in finance in London and that brought it all back.

Video: Jake also filmed skaters at the skatepark after the first relaxation of rules following lockdown.

I am really enjoying videos at the moment and there’s a couple more projects I have in the pipeline, it’s really exciting.

This will be my first exhibition and it’s going to be really scary, but it will be quite fun. I am really nervous. I just have never done it before, it’s an amazing opportunity and I am looking forward to it. My mum (Danielle Mullins) is also doing it, so we’ve got each other’s back.

GALLERY...