The Dreamlike Displays of Val Mager
How a local artist enraptures her community.
Little did I know that nestled in suburbia, doors away from me, was an inventive artist beavering away in her studio producing beautiful and inspiring prints, woodcuts and etchings.
I was captured by a bold, bright print of the South Downs by Val Mager in an Open House advert and was lucky enough to meet in her studio to discuss inspirations and working methods.
Artist’s Open Houses began when local artist Ned Hoskins was struck by the lack of opportunities to show work. He turned his home into a public gallery.
The movement grew, spreading out across the city, eventually internationally.
Ned believed art was for everybody and wanted to remove obstacles keeping people out of the art world.
So here I am, speaking with a local artist who has opened her door to me.
I began asking what inspired Val to exhibit at an Open House.
“I came down from Yorkshire, converted the garage into a studio. There is no point doing your work if you aren’t going to do something with it. I began in Yorkshire, exhibiting with Open Houses there.”
Expanding on her working process:
“I have worked in my studio for 6 years. I did a lot of rejection lino after joining Brighton Independent Print Makers. I do what appeals to me: light and darkness, time of year and narrative. Printmaking is enjoyable because of its versatile wide-ranging techniques, never gets boring, and I’m drawn to weirdness.”
Talking of the weird, one big inspiration is Goya.
Val was enchanted by his prints, woodcuts and bizarre, dreamlike images from the 1820s.
“I love Goya - he painted so many strange pictures like the witches. Impressionists like Van Gogh are amazing also, but I like to follow my own path.”
I asked Val if she has a preference for depicting nature as her work Westmeston Bostal was my personal favourite:
“I do nature because I love it and it offers drama in terms of light and shadow. Also, I love things that are ancient.”
Val and her daughter Xante often exhibit together so I asked: Do you and your daughter inspire each other?
“She is a bit like me, loves oddness.”
Do you enjoy experimenting with different mediums?
“Printmaking is continuously different mediums - so many different approaches, metal and acid, cutting, so you never get bored.”
What about Val’s inspirations from culture?
“When I was little, I drew pictures of Nefertiti. I was very interested in archaeology, anything mythical or literary such as Macbeth. “
Our community should count themselves lucky that they have such a talented artist, just on their doorstep.
Keep your eyes open to the future of Open Houses that will no doubt feature the tremendous work of Val and her daughter Xanthe Mager.
