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Our January 2024 spotlight features Ronan McKenzie, a multi-faceted photographer designer and curator to name but a few of her accolades.
In 2020, Ronan unveiled 'HOME,' a dynamic creative haven born out of a desire to make art spaces more inclusive and accessible. In fact, much of Ronan’s artistic journey is a response to the needs of her community and inquisitive nature and as such this London-based sanctuary became a thriving center for workshops and discussions, whilst doubling as a photography studio and a curated library.
After having the pleasure of recently catching up with her, she delved into the essence of ‘HOME’, how her creative practice has evolved over time and what her intentions are for the year ahead.
I'm great thank you! - 2023 was bloody tough but I've made it through with new confidence, clarity and excitement for what's to come
My practice has developed super naturally and organically as I've experimented with new disciplines that I'm interested in. Early in 2021, Zoe Whitley told me to think about my ideas, and which mode of communication would be best suited to translate it; be that an exhibition, writing, photography, etc. As my practice continues to explore out in to new modes of communication and expression, I'm grateful for the variety which provides continued inspiration, and to be able to speak through mediums which best suit the concept.
So much, it's difficult to summarise. It could be a face, a feeling, a story, something I'm questioning myself on, something someone's said to me.. I guess everything in my comes from the same place, and so I'm what ties it all together.
Whew I'm not sure I've mastered this yet haha, but it's something I'm learning more and more. Historically, I've created personal work to be able to do whatever I want without compromising, as this is a freedom not often granted within a commercial commission. But realistically, it's a constant battle between trying to make enough money to live how I want to, but spending tonnes of money to invest in the things I believe in, freelance life can be fruitful and incredibly liberating but also hugely challenging. I think it takes time to build one's creative practice to a place where we can only do things that we want to, but then again, sometimes I create something or learn something from a commission that I wasn't even originally bothered about doing, so at the moment I weigh up an opportunity based on what I'll gain from it, and go from there.
Opening HOME had a huge impact on my career; it was my introduction in to the arts and curation, collaboration consistently with my team, and I learned so much through the diverse experience that is running a small business, a community-focused project, a gallery, and a small team. I only had the space for two years, and it's taken a year to completely close the chapter, but the experience and all that it encompassed changed me for good. Although, I'm only 29, I'm still a baby girl in the grand scheme of life, and I'm proud of what I've achieved, the difficult lessons that I've learned, and the manner in which I believed in myself and the project. It made me practice confidence and embrace learning in a way that I don't think I would have otherwise, and if anything, it opened me up to evolution in new ways. I went in to HOME as a photographer and director and came out a curator, spatial designer, cultural programmer, creative director.. and that's only within HOME. I was simultaneously working on my own projects and work outside of it, and to be honest I've only been able to really appreciate all that I did and it was now that time is passing.
Just do what you want to do in the way that you want to do it, not what you think you should do. You don't have to explain who you are or why what's important to you should be important to everyone else, just do your thing and enjoy it.