Artist Jordain Molloy Gillen has always had a passion for the creative arts and after four years at the Belfast School of Art he’s now firmly established in the local scene.
Throughout his time as a student Jordain, 23, used his time to get the opportunity to exhibit his work across galleries throughout Belfast.
Not one to miss an opportunity Ballymena born Jordain used the chance of meeting people from throughout the industry leading to further opportunities.
Get To Know More About Jordain:
What do you do?
“I am an artist, I design, make, craft and sculpt.”
What genre / style do you create in?
“I like to create through a number of styles however if I was to describe how I create I would say melancholy fairytale.”
What would you be best known for?
“Being an artist and dancing on stage with Jess Glynne in Mandela Hall.”
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
“Achieving a 2:1 in my degree in Fine Art.”
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
“To trust your gut instinct and ask for opinions from others around you.”
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
“My biggest challenge to date was probably putting together my degree show as I am a very independent person.
“When you are putting together your show you are constantly being pushed in directions of how to present your work, and sometimes it takes away from the originally intentions behind it you had in mind when creating it.
“In the end, I ended up doing my own thing regardless of what I was being told and it paid off.”
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
“I am currently in relationship with my partner of three years and we are very happy. He is also very into the arts and has done a lot of production work in which he has helped me get a few jobs in costume assistance.
“I am a massive fan of music and regularly attend a lot of concerts and gigs and love to club, as I believe in living and enjoying the moment.
“I am also very into nature and going forest and county walks as it allows me to feel spiritually grounded and gives me inspirations for my work. As a person, I am very spiritual and I am a firm believer in the law of attraction.
“Anything that involves glitter, gold, sparkles or gives of positive, dreamy vibes is right up my street.”
Tell us about your most recent work?
“My most recent work to date is very autobiographical as it is representation of me as a person. It is very melancholy as it may appear to be colourful, bright and luxurious but has a tinge of sadness and a deeper meaning behind it.
“The work portrays my feelings of isolation and hurt at the time while making it and is also very sentimental as it was dedicated to my granda who sadly passed away just around six months ago.
“The work also portrays my spirituality and lust for dreamlike and fairy-tale qualities in life and can be very striking and unusual in appearance. The whole thing is one big reflection of myself.”
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
“I would start by using three words bold, dreamlike and melancholy. I would then continue to explain my influences from fashion, music and nature.
“How I conceive my ideas through inspiration and dreaming of them. How I adore anything that is sparkly or rich in colour and how I like to try and keep a flowing narrative in what I create.”
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
“I remember we were asked to bring two completely random materials in for a project, so I brought along a roll of cling film and acrylic paint. Little did I know what we were about to be asked to do with them.
“So, when I brought them in they then asked us to take the two items and create a piece of art with them. So, I’m standing here thinking what on earth am I going to do with acrylic paint and cling film.
“Well I took the cling film wrapped it around the table and just emptied all the paint in a pile on the centre of the desk and thought to myself ok this was a super dumb idea and walked away.
“However, when I came in the next day, the paint had hardened in a marble effect, and when I pealed it off it was like a leathery material, I thought happy days and so I decided I use it like a material.
“I then went a little crazy and tried the same thing using different types of paints and in the end it was a genius idea. I managed to make two hats, a waistcoat and strips of wearable paint for a project.
“Moral of the story, no idea is stupid lol.”
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
“Always believe in yourself no matter what. Never take other’s opinions to seriously and do not let it interrupt with your creativity, cause in order to be unique and different from everyone else, you have to believe in your own ideas even if others think their stupid.
“Nothing is more powerful than your own creativity, even if it does involve a little rebellious nature lol.”
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
“On a whole I am very lively, fun, glamorous and full of life and this carry’s through to my work. Life is about having a smile on your face and feeling loved and thats what I like to see in others.
“I am very sociable and get along with pretty much anyone to be honest lol. I believe in equality for everyone and equal rights for animals. I believe that everyone could just offer the world some love and a smile, the world would be a better place.”
Who do you look up to and why?
“There is many people I look up to including Alexander McQueen, Philip Tracey, Lady Gaga, the list goes on.
“However, the person I look up to most is Katy Perry. Reason being is because as a person I can relate to her in so many ways.
“We have so many things in common including our characteristics and the ways in which we view the world. I feel like she has great values of the world and has a lot of respect for people in general.
“I also admire her creativity and how she oversees everything she does, regardless of what others have to say. I find her music very empowering and again I can relate to a lot of the lyrics.”
Find out more:
Facebook – www.facebook.com/JordainGillenArtist
Instagram – www.instagram.com/jordainmolloygillen
Website – colourburst0.wixsite.com/jordainmolloygillen
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