Q&A with Becki Miller
We spoke with Becki, aka MOZE, a mural maker, sign painter and illustrator based in Manchester who knows Preston and The Harris well. Becki has been collaborating with our Youth Panel to create a mural for No.9, our new young people’s space within The Harris.
Tell us a little bit more about the current piece that you’re working on.
The piece I’ve been working on for No.9 is representative of some of the ideas from the young people that I’ve spoken to. What I noticed when I was speaking to them is that they were quite caught up in their identity, it means a huge deal to them, as it does to a lot of people. With this piece, I’m trying to represent the fact that we’re all different, yet we’re all the same in a lot of ways as well. There’s no reason why we can’t stand shoulder to shoulder and be together.
Tell us a little bit more about the process of collaborating with the young people.
We had a session where we talked about what was important to us, and what message we wanted the piece to convey. One of my favourite things to do is create protest signs, so we did that, and talked about different artists and different art styles. This gave me a really good idea of what the young people wanted to see. The discussion and ideas around identity came about accidentally, but this became a big topic of discussion at the session and the consensus was that identity was very important to the young people. Part of me felt a bit sad hearing that as it’s quite separating isn’t it, and I really want to promote togetherness rather than ‘us versus them’.
I also took direct suggestions from the young people about themes / collection items that they would like to see in the artwork, like Horace the Elk – I find that part of archeological history really fascinating, and I’m glad they do too! Another person had asked for elements from my previous pieces to be included, as well as some symbolism of the city itself. I didn’t want to be too obvious by adding the lamb or references to football, so I added a nod to the row of Red Phone Boxes.
Have you ever visited the Harris before, and are there any particular reasons you were keen to have your work on display at the Harris?
A few of my friends messaged me when they saw this opportunity advertised, and the process of applying was really inclusive and relaxing compared to the very formal application process of some institutions. And the Harris is just amazing, isn’t it? When you’re from Leyland and you don’t go to many places, and then all of a sudden you come to Preston and there’s this big art gallery, you find yourself saying ‘cool, I want to be an artist’. The last exhibition I came to was ‘Look, Listen, Make Things’ by the artist Bob and Roberta Smith, who’s one of my favourite artists. I went with my friends who brought their children along, and they were getting involved, holding the signs and taking pictures. It’s a really great memory because we could all get involved with the exhibition.
Could you tell us a little bit more about your art style, are there any artists that inspire your work?
I would say that my art style isn’t very abstract, and I was thinking about creating something more abstract when I was thinking about this piece initially, but realised I am a little bit more figurative. I’m definitely inspired by artists like Bob and Roberta Smith and Keith Haring. I’m inspired by everything I see day to day, from films to street art, nature to graphic design, art inspiration is everywhere!
Do you have any other projects on the go at the minute, or after this?
After this, I’ll be going to work at an apartment building to create an organic-style mural, and I’ll be working to a precise brief, whereas with the piece for No.9, there was no brief. The process of creating this mural has been so free and scary in a way, because it’s been so liberating to be able to do exactly what I want!
Harris Your Place
Harris Your Place is a £16 million project set to restore and reimagine the Harris for 21st-century audiences as a cultural learning space. The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations whilst enhancing accessibility options and positioning the Harris as a community hub for Preston and Lancashire.
The capital project is more than simply preserving this much-loved building; Harris wants to ensure that it remains a vibrant heart of the community. A place where people want to spend their time.
