Molly: Like most collectives we were first brought together by our circumstances – studying art in Plymouth – but as our friendship grew we realised we had a lot of similar interests and attitudes. We often work with the same themes, but the stuff we produce can be wildly different. I think that’s what makes dOgMiLk work.
Scarlet: We have given each other a safe space to discuss and critique our own and others work, and I think we are all really passionate about expanding that space, as well as the conversations we are having about personality, digital self, and accountability.
Sam: It’s very easy to be depressed these days… Approaching eschaton… So I think a key part of the dOgMiLk manifesto is to bring absurdity to the apocalypse. We want our collective to be an ultimately positive force in a time of darkness.
Q & A with dOgMilk
What do you love about showing and/or making work in Plymouth?
Molly: For me it just feels unreal, I grew up here but moved away at 18, when I came back I fell in love with the city in a way I couldn’t before. Seeing all the arts and community projects springing up is honestly humbling, and just the thought of being part of that is exciting. It’s great to see a city you know so well flourish.
Scarlet: I grew up over the border in Cornwall, but I have a lot of formative memories in Plymouth. I’ve found a lot of independence here, both when I was younger and more recently. For me it’s so exciting to watch the art community grow in the city, and also feel like I’m growing with it 🙂
Sam: I’m more of a tourist in Plymouth, having only moved here a few years ago to study, so my love for the city is maybe more aesthetic or whatever: ocean breezes, fish & chips, etc. At least that’s how it started. There’s a real sense of collective creativity and excitement regarding the growth of the art scene as well! It’s an infectious city. In a good way. A good infection.
What can you tell us about this project, and why is now a good time to share it?
Molly: Notopia is born from a lot of frustration, the time we’re living through feels so chaotic and negative in a lot of ways. We wanted to do something that took this sense of unease and transformed it into a celebration of contemporary emerging artists, their perspectives, and the ways they’re working around limitations imposed by austerity.
Sam: It’s currently a pretty pivotal time for Plymouth what with the redevelopment of the city centre and the approaching Mayflower celebration. There seems to be mixed messages regarding the city’s place in history: whether it should be celebrated, or erased; upheld, or redeveloped. But all of these conversations are lacking the voice we really need to hear from: the youth, whose lives will be affected by all the decisions being made. This show is a panicked shout for attention, a plea for listening ears, or maybe a death rattle… Who knows.
Scarlet: We are all digital natives coming of age and getting angry!!
What are you excited to see at this year’s PAW, and why?
Molly: WestFordNeedles Wayne’s War of the Worlds is top of our list right now, when it was being pitched at the Soup funding event we got so excited! Anything with a bit of humour is always going to draw us in. I also personally love wandering around the city and seeing what I stumble upon, there’s always such a range of stuff to see that discovering it as you go is part of the fun. Finally I’ll definitely be checking out KARST, they always have something forward thinking going on and if they can top last year it’s gunna be a blast!
Scarlet: I’m looking forward to checking out Kate Entwistle’s Pink Plaques of Plymouth. It’s a great concept – I love work exploring personal attachment to spaces.
25, 26 & 27 Sept 2020 