Eleanor Macnair — a tiny space

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Where were you born and where do you reside now?

I was born in Nottingham (UK) and live in Peckham, London.

Did you study art/design in school or are you self taught?

I gave up art at school when I was 14 but I’ve always gravitated towards jobs in the visual arts and photography so I think I’ve learned a lot by osmosis, just by looking and seeing. A bit of a ‘Good Will Hunting’ style art school.

Is there something specific in the photographs you recreate that inspire you?

Some photographs just grab me – there’s no magic formula. My day job is doing press for galleries and museums and so I think I have perhaps developed a sense of which images are engaging and intriguing with no contextual information. The images I reacreate also have to work well in play-doh. It’s not a subtle medium and so there are limitations as to what I can do.

How did you decide play-doh would be your medium?

Play-doh chose me. It all started when I went to a photographic pub quiz run by artists MacDonaldStrand where you had to recreate a famous photograph in play-doh. It was never my idea. I borrowed someone else’s, which is a theme throughout the project. Then my local supermarket stocked play-doh at the time, and I think it was all just happenstance. The project was never intentional.

How long does it normally take you to complete a piece? Is it trial and error?

It used to be just an hour, late at night, but I now it takes longer as I take more care as I know there is an audience. But yes, trial and error. I never know what will work and what won’t. Also, the pieces start to dry up and crack quite quickly so by the very nature of the material, it wouldn’t be possible to spend more than a couple of hours on a piece.

Do you ever feel compelled to pick up a camera?

After working in photography for years I’ve seen so much good work that I don’t feel I could ever add anything new to the conversation. I think that maybe seeing so much photography does open your eyes a bit more to the visual world all around you.

Since your craft is so unique i'm curious how your commissions have worked out? How the collaboration process works?

I love doing commissions as I never really know how they will work out and I enjoy having a new framework to work within. Whoever commissions me does take a risk as they never really know what they will get. For example, the most recent was a Halloween commission for AnOthermag.com where I was asked to create my ideal pumpkin. I decided to create a still life with pumpkins in the style of Laura Letinsky. So I’m always borrowing from, referencing and interpreting a source photograph. Quite a lot of the project is researching images. And running around London looking for new play-doh supplies.

Aside from sculpture, what else are you passionate about?

It’s more photography than sculpture that I’m passionate about. I don’t know if I think of myself as a sculptor. Or a photographer. Just something I do. I also love ideas and books, and ballet (which I’ve always done) and seeing foxes in the city, and I’m interested in the incredible power we wield over other people.

See more work at photographsrenderedinplaydoh.tumblr.com