Corinne and Daisy reflect on their Remote Nest Residency.

I’m Corinne, a disabled self-portrait artist. This year marks my fifth year of spending almost every day confined to the same 2 by 1.5 metre space, my bed. During my residency my only childhood and imaginary friend Daisy helped me transform a vintage dolls house into our childhood home. I’m Neurodivergent and was never encouraged to read as a child, but at the age of 15 read my first book Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’. It was a struggle and both my family and teachers discouraged me.

I couldn’t explain my fascination with Miss Havisham and her home Satis House, I just knew her feeling trapped at home and being depressed felt familiar. I first met Daisy when I was 6 years old, I was crying in bed one night which wasn’t unusual and Daisy walked through my wall. Me and Daisy created Daisyland a magical place where I could escape my entrapment. I spent the majority of my childhood in Daisyland and would often make fairy doors, which were a portal to Daisyland. The first week of the residency we spoke about childhood and decided to create photographic self-portraits from our childhood memories. Whilst gluing the photographs to the walls of the house, I felt as if our childhood had transformed into wallpaper. 

(This fairy door is a portal to Daisyland) 

(Photographic self-portrait, with casket containing a dried flower from Dad’s funeral)

I’ve struggled with hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) which often keep me awake at night since childhood. One night Daisy made a deal with my voices, they said if she gave them her teeth they would leave me alone for one whole night. Suddenly Daisy’s teeth grew wings and flew from her mouth. The voices let me sleep, but don’t worry Daisy’s teeth grew back.

(Photographic self-portrait and braid constructed from synthetic hair. At age twelve when my periods started I began pulling out my hair, which led to me developing the disorder Trichotillomania.)

This self-portrait depicts a conversation between myself and Daisy. I’ve known since a young age I was queer but felt afraid and confused until Daisy told me it’s okay to be attracted to someone regardless of if they identify as she, they or he. Violets have a long history of being associated with queerness which stems from the Greek poet Sappho, who often mentioned violets in her work. Sappho was said to be the first woman loving woman, so my inclusion of violets in this self-portrait celebrates my love for women.  

During the residency, I recorded bird song from my bedroom window and aim to incorporate this into the house. Even though I’m confined to bed daily, I’m so lucky as I live a minute’s walk from the wood. Which means every day I hear bird song from my bedroom window and it feels like the birds are keeping me and Daisy company.

My biggest barrier to accessing the art world is my inability to be physically present. Talking Birds removed this barrier by supporting me to work remotely. 

Before this residency I had only presented my photographic self-portraits in frames so the opportunity of presenting them in a dolls house and transforming this house into my childhood home has enabled me to develop my arts practice in ways that would have not been possible without the fluid  and experimental nature of this opportunity. I’m so thankful for the support, guidance and how understanding and supportive Janet was of my mental health & access needs.  I’m certain this residency will have a long lasting and positive effect upon my artist practice as it’s given me the confidence to push my work into new directions.