Liz West’s artistic journey is a vivid interplay of light, colour and space, transforming ordinary environments into immersive experiences. In her latest installation named "Tiered Reflections", which I saw up-close at the British Council in New Delhi, she reinterprets the historic geometry of Jodhpur’s Toorji Ka Jhalra stepwell, adapting it to a contemporary setting in Delhi. Through a carefully curated palette and an intuitive understanding of spatial dynamics, West invites viewers to engage with heritage in a new light. In this conversation with Outlook Traveller, she shares insights into her creative process, the inspirations behind her work, and the profound impact of art on how we perceive space and history.
Your work often interacts with the specific qualities of a space. How did the historic Toorji Ka Jhalra stepwell in Jodhpur inspire "Tiered Reflections", and how did you reinterpret it for its new setting?
What initially struck me about the iconic Toorji Ka Jhalra stepwell in Jodhpur was the layers of angular forms that appeared in the architecture. It seemed appropriate to borrow the information from the stepwell's geometry when creating a new piece of work to be exhibited there. I have used circular forms many times in the past, and have wanted to stretch my muscles for a while to play with a new form: the square. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that. My use of a tailored and selected colour palette also made the work site-specific for the exhibitions, both in Jodhpur and New Delhi.
Known for fostering cross-cultural collaborations, the British Council provided the ideal setting for this exhibition, reinforcing its commitment to connecting global and Indian artistic voices. The focus of this reinterpretation of "Tiered Reflections" was to adapt to Delhi's atmosphere and offer a fresh perspective on the interplay of history and modernity.
Light and colour play a fundamental role in your installations. How do you approach the process of selecting hues and lighting effects to evoke different emotions in your audience?
In my "Reflections" series, I use directional and delicately balanced lighting to bounce off the mirrors arranged on the floor to create dynamic patters and orbs of coloured light that reflect around the space. The interplay between the light, my chosen materials, and the space is always site responsive; I take time within the space to 'feel' what the space needs. Colours conjure different reactions and emotions depending on the individual person viewing the work. Therefore, I select the hues and tones carefully to complement the exhibition space. One person's interpretation of the artwork can be completely different to the next.
Do films and artworks inspire you in your works?
I have been lucky enough to attend many exhibitions and films during my lifetime. The ones that I have been inspired by the most (particularly those I saw as a child or young adult) were always site-specific or immersive installations works - namely James Turrell's solo exhibition at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Wakefield, UK) in the 2000's and Olafur Eliasson's weather project in the Tate Modern (London, UK) huge Turbine Hall in 2003. I was in my late teens when I experienced both of these exhibitions. I was at an impressionable age, trying to decide which path to take with my studies as a 17-year-old student.
You have exhibited across the world, from London and Paris to Berlin and Bengaluru. How does working in different cultural and architectural contexts shape your creative process?
It is exhilarating and humbling. I am lucky enough to explore the world through my practice. It offers massive learning opportunities. Every where I visit, I observe, ask questions, and fully engage with the process and people. Paying close attention and being present (even when working remotely) allows me to make work that hopefully feels like it truly 'belongs.' When I return home, I take inspiration and ideas from my travels and inevitably weave it into future projects.
What, according to you, is people's understanding of "space" in all the places you've visited? Is there something that struck you as intriguing?
People from different cultures have different interpretations of 'space'. Some cultures tend to prefer (or are used to) hardly any space around them, whereas other people need vast amounts of free space to function. However, I have seen cultural beauty and amazing craftsmanship within the historic or municipal spaces I have visited, each with its own identity and resonance. What is 'space' to one person is confinement or freedom to another. I find this incredibly powerful and inspiring.
Your installations often invite interaction and immersion. What role does the viewer’s experience play in shaping the final impact of your work?
When experiencing my work, the viewer often becomes a performer within it. My work invites and encourages people to move and explore the spaces. If I am able to be present at my exhibitions, I listen and observe people’s reactions, which helps inform future works.
Public art has the power to transform spaces. How does "Tiered Reflections" enhance the perception of heritage sites like stepwells, and contemporary spaces like the British Council?
I hope my work encourages people to look [at spaces] differently. I use colour and light to transform or highlight elements of the space in either modern and historic spaces, with the intention of encouraging people to look up and around them. Perhaps they will see things that they wouldn't normally have seen or recognised. Through my work, and by heightening people's sensory awareness, I ask people to be present in the moment, and to be more aware of themselves in the space and the people around them.
The British Council India has provided an ideal contemporary setting for "Tiered Reflections," creating a meaningful dialogue between the historic inspiration of the stepwell and modern exhibition space. The artwork has been adapted and reinterpreted for this special presentation, keeping colours that reference its starting point in Toorji Ka Jhalra stepwell, but adding bold hues that respond to its new surroundings in Delhi.
For travellers experiencing your work for the first time, what do you hope they take away from "Tiered Reflections" and your broader artistic vision?
Through seeing and experiencing my work, I hope people become more aware of the world around them as they step out. Our planet is beautiful and interesting, colourful and bleak, vibrant and dirty. It has all the juxtapositions of life. The intensity of the colours I choose within my work are all present in our day to day lives, if only we opened up our eyes to them!
What are some public art and installations that you recommend one must see?
Instead of recommending specific artworks, I would rather suggest that readers walk and 'look' rather than ride the underground trains. From walking or moving around above ground, you get a better sense of the culture, place and spaces you are in. Look up!
