Eileen Cooper OBE RA

Eileen Cooper RA, who is an honorary fellow of Murray Edwards College, emerged as an artist in the mid-eighties, at a time when most artists were experimenting with conceptual art and performance. Cooper, however, remained true to figuration, drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of sources, including Greek mythology, fairy tales, bible stories, early special effects films and her own life.
Though many of Cooper’s draw on her own autobiography, dealing with sexuality, motherhood, life and death, they are allegorical rather than anecdotal. The little boat in ‘Seasick’ might be interpreted as a symbol of the journey through life. The title of ‘Seasick’ points to life’s emotional turmoil and is reminiscent of the cliché that ‘life isn’t always plain sailing’.