Collecting as an Art Form

I'll admit it ... I collect:

• cane trays (the sort made in occupational therapy classes),
• stones (but they have to be white and smooth),
• fabric of every colour and texture,
• aprons,
• cow designed themed china,
• retro plates,
• lace,
• children's books,
• and Hanmer-Ware Pottery.

I have had to make a room in my house for my "stuff" and it gives me endless amounts of satisfaction to go and look at it all, marvel at the variety and plan how one day I will actually put it into some semblance of order.

For some this may sound like I am in need of help or at least a guest spot on a reality TV programme, but hoarding is not my problem. No. I am a 'Collector', and according to a new book Magnificent Obsessions: The Artist as Collector, I am in very good company.

Peter Blake is an artist renowned for his Pop Art of the 1960s. His studio is apparently filled with his collections, one photo featuring every imaginable form of ornamental elephant known to human kind. All are arranged beautifully, so cute, so useless ... but undeniably a feast for a collector's eyes. Interestingly, Blake collected miniature elephants as a way of stopping himself from bigger acquisitions.

I was becoming a bit like my grandmother. I wasn't quite collecting 30 mincing machines, but I was heading in that direction, over collecting and collecting madly. I thought I would put a safety valve on myself: if I go to Portobello Road and buy a miniature elephant instead of coming home with an old bicycle or a complete kitchen or something crazy, I'll have achieved my ambition for that day

Damien Hirst (famous for his formaldehyde Shark) has always been fascinated with collecting. He believes that collections say as much about the person who collects them as it does about the material that is collected. His collections reflect his interests and passions, they include the macabre, the beautiful and reflect the relationship he feels between art and science.

This title has a collecting obsession to suit every occasion from books, taxidermy, medical instruments, posters, album covers, fabric, postcards etc. The list is endless, the photography captivating and the interviews enlightening.

Magnificent Obsessions is like a self-help book for Collectors Anonymous. No longer will you feel alone, ridiculed by family and friends, unable to control your addiction, you are after all in the company of the artistic and creative!

Kōrerorero mai - Join the conversation.