Artist Spotlight - Mia Behrens | Make Believe Dream Create in Macclesfield

Mia Behrens: Holding A Mirror To Macclesfield

You’re using your residency to work on a new project that will capture and celebrate the people and places of Macclesfield – what was the inspiration for this project?

The inspiration for this body of work is to expand my practice and capabilities. Whilst I recognise the skill and technique I’ve developed over the years, I believe my practice has become quite static. I wish to evolve my style and experiment with new ways of creating. A month of painting in Macclesfield is the perfect way to do this!

Have you already chosen who and what you’ll paint in Macclesfield, or will you decide that spontaneously during your residency?

Spontaneity is key in this project. On my first day in the studio, I met a few lovely people, and a few lovely dogs! I am open to wherever the project takes me.

What is working from Macclesfield giving you that you can’t achieve elsewhere?

New experiences, a new environment and a new community.

What do you hope to have achieved at the completion of your residency?

An exciting, experimental new body of work that differs from my previous practice. I haven’t painted landscapes since before commencing my degree and noticed my work becoming consistently tighter while immersed in an environment of grades and presentations. I hope this body of work will be more expressive; a genuine representation of life in Macclesfield.

How much thought have you given to involving the community in your project during your residency?

I plan to be in the studio as many days a week as possible and welcome any visitors into the space. If I'm not in the studio, you’ll find me painting in the beautiful area between Mount Barker and Macclesfield. I’ll display my work throughout the month and hope the community will enjoy watching it grow. I’ll also have an opening night event for the final body of work to demonstrate the whole story in a more formal exhibition. I’m also documenting my residency experience in Macclesfield through my Instagram account: @miabehrens_art.

You say your painting sits ‘between realism and expressionism’ – how would you describe the result when those two styles meet?

I’ve always strived for realism, enjoying the satisfaction I receive when viewers recognise my time and effort. However, I also enjoy the little pops of colour and abstract marks scarcely seen in realism. I believe, and hope, my practice demonstrates the technique required to paint a realistic human form while also showing the character and emotion of my subjects through brushwork.

What’s the measure you use to know when a work is ‘complete’ – is a work ever complete?

When I'm too cold or hot, when my back is sore, when the colours on the palette merge into one, when time runs out, the due date hits, the sun goes down, I get tired, hungry or lose focus. In other words, I never really know. I’m a very detail-oriented person and will always enjoy putting more and more paint on the canvas, so at some point I just need to reach the end.

You graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Visual Arts in 2023 and have exhibited in more than a dozen exhibitions – do you feel you have found your voice as an artist?

I believe this is an element of my practice that will always be developing. I’m considered to be an emerging artist, but I believe all artists always have something to learn or find something new to inspire them.

What does artistic success look like to you?

At this point in my career, I'm not too sure. I’ve been lucky to win numerous large cash prizes from my work and often use this to ‘prove’ my worth as an artist; humans value financial figures. Or I'd say something like ‘I graduated not even two years ago, and I’ve done thiiiis many exhibitions’ like the number means everything. But truthfully, success for me is just always creating. I believe I’ll be making art until I physically can’t anymore - and that’s the goal.

Which artwork – across all artforms – do you wish you created and why?

If I were to think about ‘success’ I’d choose something reflective of the contemporary arts environment which I’m working in, for example Maurizio Cattelan’s ‘Comedian’. Outside of the visual arts, I ‘wish’ I could have created singer Aurora’s work. Her voice, performative personality and enchantment of the audience are fascinating. But overall, I am happy to just continue creating my own work. These, and endless other artists and people will always inspire me to do so.

Members of the community are invited to an exhibition of Mia’s new artworks at The Stable between 5pm and 7pm on Friday 28 November.