NICO at Home with Jess Cochrane
Congratulations on your recent show, ‘A Woman By Any Other Name’, how did you find the experience of holding a solo show in London?
Thank you so much, the experience of showing in London is always a wonderful experience. There are so many amazing people I feel lucky to connect with through the opportunity.
Your work explores the feminine, and particularly the female form, why is this a subject that fascinates you?
I think if you really boil it down, I paint what I know to be familiar to me. I find the human condition really fascinating and I think I enjoy questioning the conditioning of what it is to be human or what it is to hold feminine energy within the self. For me, the female form is so powerful. I find it interesting that it is often seen as something controversial or, depending on its outer appearance, something to be critiqued negatively. I find a lot of empowerment is questioning why and looking at historical elements of art and pop history that have played a hand in how human minds have been conditioned to have these specific responses or reactions to the female body.
What does a typical day look like for you in your home studio?
A typical day for me starts with saying good morning to my partner Ben and my two pets, Noodle the cat and Pig the dog. I like to try and start the day by leaving the house to run errands or go for breakfast, so that when I come back it’s like stepping into the office for the day. I spend most of the day making paintings. Of course every day is a little bit different depending on the project or if I have meetings, but every day feels good all the same.
How was the shoot for you?
It was really fun! I shot with my friend Meara who is an amazing photographer. It’s always nice being shot by women. The energy is really special.
What does self care look like for you?
Self care for me changes depending on what I feel like my mental or my body needs. Some days it can be a bath, some days it can be crying, other days it could be a workout, some days it’s even making work that helps. I think self care has become quite a capitalised thing these days so I constantly remind myself that there is never just one thing, one recipe or one go-to way to approach self care.
How does sustainability play a role in your daily routines?
I can’t claim to be an expert at sustainability, but there are a few small choices I make that have been really great such as growing my own seasonal veggies in our London back yard, choosing public transport over driving, and i’ve been trying to make smarter choices with my wardrobe by buying pieces I know I love with intention of wearing until I've worn them out. I think one of the nicer things about growing up and into yourself is being more familiar with your personal style and therefore investing in pieces that make you feel good rather than buying into fast fashion trends.
See more from Jess Cochrane here and photographer Meara Kallista Morse here.
