Lord Napier, Hackney Wick, July 2016

Aida Wilde is a defiant artist, a “demonic Print-maker”, an East London survivor. It is mostly about survival right now, her curating and pulling together of things in terms of the Lorn Napier pub and what happened on the walls over there in Hackney Wick last year really was one of the best things that happened in 2016, her hashtags and her creative pokes at those who need provoking; Last year’s Save Yourselves show and the battles with the Olympic Legacy people and those damn soul-sucking community destroying developers was more tha njsut another art show, we like Aida’s energy. And we mostly love her glorious printmaking that comes laced with attitude as well as beautiful colour and that all important smile, her paste-up word play, Aida Wilde is an artist who matters, a beautifully defiant print maker who plays with emotions as she catches it just how it is now in just the right punk rock kind of way, we like the art and attitude of Aida Wilde…

Hackney Wick, July 2016

Thirteen Questions From Organ. The idea is simple, an ongoing series of thirteen questions sent out to people who’s creativity we’re rather admiring and enjoying at the moment – artists, musicians, film makers, cake testers and who knows who… this time we invited Aida Wilde to answer the questions…

1: WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
Aida….I’m primarily a demonic Print-maker

2: WHERE ARE YOU TODAY? WHERE ARE YOU MOST DAYS?
Today/Tonight, I am in my print studio. I mostly work 7 days a week, till whatever time it suits me… I don’t have a strict regime like some artists do. Most times I don’t leave here 3/4 days at a time. It’s like my cave bunker, where I shut everything and everyone else out. Mostly thinking and making things.

3: WHO OR WHAT IS EXCITING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Not sounding arrogant, pretentious or anything, I’m not really excited about other artists, although I obviously appreciate their thang etc…and support them and buy work. I get excited every time I have the most hair brained unachievable idea and then go about figuring out how to conceive or achieve it. It’s a gift & a curse

AIDA WILDE (2017)

4: WHY DO YOU MAKE ART?
Mostly for my sanity. I get twitchy hands and my mind swallows it self. Printing is my sanctuary. It’s the time that I completely zone out, similar to meditation. I think this is the why I refuse to have assistants etc….It’s my quiet time
I also think I just have too many things whizzing around my head that need to come out. Always with ideas so I guess it’s a shame to waste them.

5: HOW DO YOU WORK?
In organised chaos. I hate white clinical spaces. My place is loco, but I clean constantly & everything has it’s place. I Like printing in the afternoons & night mostly. I don’t like working Mondays but I mostly do. I love working Saturday nights knowing others are out getting pissed…makes me feel smug. & as mentioned before, I love working alone.

6: TELL US ABOUT THE ART YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
I identify with art that’s made from the heart and soul of the artist. If I don’t see that in the work, then you’ve lost me…not matter how accomplished it may be.  I also like witty work, not the kind that’s up it’s own ass but funny, ironic and truthful I guess.

AIDA WILDE

7: WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR OWN WORK?
I guess I appreciate it’s honesty. It’s an extension of who I am and it has my energy. There is nothing special about it…I think it’s what I put of myself in it that makes it work…(some of the time)

8: WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR OWN WORK?
Maybe not trying to make too many bold moves to make it progress faster. I let my work develop organically over time…one thing/idea leads to another and so forth…sometimes this process is time consuming and unpredictable. I just have to be patient.

9: WHAT HAS BEEN THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE SO FAR?
Ha ha ha….right now, probably answering your questions.

AIDA WILDE

10: WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY?
Oh my gosh…please don’t get me started.
If you spoke to any of my friends they would tell you, I am irate about most things.
I am obviously angry about all the cliche things that most intelligent people are angry about like war, inequality, injustice blah blah blah but here are the mundane everyday things.
I think that’s why I don’t really leave my place. I get annoyed even walking behind someone with a buggy, that’s the level that we are talking about.
People speaking on mobiles on public transport, or especially the ones that walk & text at the same time in front of you wearing headphones, then decide to stop sporadically right in front of you for no apparent reason.
Manners, people without them….’sorry’ & ‘excuse me’ just don’t exist anymore
anyways, the list is too long but you get my gist.

11: WHICH SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
Ha, a classic question that I’ve never answered before but here it goes. I think I would like the power of Multiplicity! Then, I can split myself into many and be so productive. Could you imagine how much more work I could do and what mischief I could make!!!!! Imagine covering the city in one night….Special

12: WHAT COULDN’T YOU DO WITHOUT?
Some of my family and a couple of my special friends that have been their for me no matter what, I love them dearly.

AIDA WILDE

13: WHAT IS IT ABOUT DADDY BUYING A PONY ANYWAY?
I can tell you what it’s not about.

It’s not about never being able to call someone Dad
It’s not about not having a father figure whilst growing up
It’s not about never being able to say ‘Daddy can I have’
& It’s not about being envious of the people who could say ‘Daddy, I want a…….

Finally, any plans you wish ot share or things to wish to tell us about?

I have no concrete plans for my future….never have. I know that I am not in any shows so far this year or have any plans to do some crazy thing that could leave me exhausted and broken for another 6 months but who knows!  I do know that I am working on some meaty prints due to be released this year. Pretty excited and grateful to be making some substantial studio work again.

The questions were fired by Sean, thank you Aida… Explore previous Organ coverage

Further exploring of Aida Wilde…. aidaprints.com / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram