Hannah is a multidisciplinary artist and Creative Director building immersive worlds from symbolism, Surrealism, and decolonial practice. Through the use of neon, metallics, and layered, symbolic meaning, her work demands attention and holds space. Hannah is a University of Glasgow Graduate with a creative route through events and management, and she is the founder of Coco & Co and artist brand Coconut Water, exhibiting and collaborating across Glasgow, Edinburgh, and NW England.

See Hannah’s work as part of our annual summer open call exhibition, Melting Point. While days grow long and shorts shorten, Six Foot Gallery is delighted to host twenty nine artists exploring art as an alchemical process; the heat of summer as an artistic catalyst, plus our Sextet listening station is back with twenty-one new pieces for you to spend some quality time with.

Hi Hannah! Can you tell us how your artistic journey started?
I’ve always been creative – as a child I was always designing, performing, making something – so there was never a question of whether I’d end up in the creative industries, more a question of when I’d stop resisting the inevitable pull of a steady job and a steady income and give myself up to the constant flux of the art world. I’d always wanted to study art but I went down a theatre and events route to gain professional experience. I tried my best to make the nine-to-five work but eventually I gave it up to build something of my own, and I’ve never looked back.

How has your practice changed over time?
It’s become a lot more sustainable throughout; in materials, practice, and production. Learning to stay grounded while also opening myself up through my work has been difficult but I feel like I’ve achieved that balance now. Having moved past autobiographical works that only made sense on my bedroom wall, my work has evolved to become more inviting for viewers, offering not just a decorative object for your eye to rest on but a piece that incorporates my personal symbols to give you something confessional and communicative. I want the viewer to join me in the discussion now.

How do you know when a piece is complete?
It’s always difficult because I’m a maximalist so identifying when it’s ‘too much’ can be nigh on impossible! I always want to add just one more thing and tell just one more perspective in every piece, so I’ve taught myself to just stop.

Can you elaborate on the significance or symbolism of the chosen title of your work?
The piece I have in the show is called Superstar, and it’s about the gifted-kid-to-mid-twenties-burn-out pipeline that I know will be familiar to so many creatives! The title speaks to the grandiosity and promise of the expected system of success, as well as its collapse and cynicism – that tension is where I live. Though there’s an irony inherent in it, it’s really more affectionate than bitter. I grew up to find out that the glorious future promised to me was not all it cracked up to be. As a lighter ‘passing’ mixed-race child, being put on a pedestal was a complication all its own, especially on top of what I now understand to be the ways my brain protects itself. Pursuing these ‘heights’ burnt me out completely. Being talented was seen as the way out of where I grew up, but now all I see are the adventures I was having chasing this high.

What do you do to keep motivated and interested in your work?
I remind myself that this is the way I’ve chosen to live. It’s not something I have to do. I’ve tried other options, and this is the only one I care enough about to fight for. If I can connect and care about my subject, then curiosity will keep me going, even when I don’t feel motivated.

Which artists inspire you? Are there non-artistic influences such as literature or music that impact your work?
I’m a big fan of Jean Michel Basquait and Tracey Emin for their staunch refusals to fit neatly into other people’s expectations, and I love the surrealism of Leonora Carrington and the firmly established sovereignty of her inner world. Edward Enninful taught me that taste and curation can be a form of defiance, and Maya Angelou and Audre Lorde speak directly to my heart, holding their identities fiercely whilst dancing with us to display it. I look up to all of these unapologetic creatives, each of whom had something incredibly important to convey.

Find out more about Hannah’s work on Instagram or on her website. Melting Point runs at Six Foot Gallery until Thursday 9th July.