Patricia Bidi - Her
Visual Artist, Painter and Printmaker at Studio Bidi
Patricia Bidi is a visual artist living and working in London. Her work in printmaking celebrates life’s seminal moments and new beginnings through her playful and poetic imagination submerging the viewer within her own realm of storytelling. It explores ideas of identity, place, and memory within a shifting landscape.
From her inner landscape, new images and shapes emerge. Her influences lie in the urban energy and cultural fusions of London, people, and architecture. Beauty, harmony, and bold colours that contrast with the current times. Her vibrant linocuts involve a combination of motifs drawing on her Peruvian heritage, childhood memories, and the experience of living in London. memories to create her dynamic iconography. Patricia Bidi’s work explores her Peruvian background: dreams and traces of childhood memories; the sun, energy, and colourful festivals of her native country alongside her experience of living in London.
Please tell us about your career
I love Art & Design because I love creating new worlds with my imagination and taking people on a journey to show them my creations, dreams and fantasies to produce a collaborative adventure to bring change, evolve and grow. I was a beauty therapist, make-up artist and complementary therapist before I went into Art and Design. I struggled so much with my health and weak immune system as I used to be sick all year round then, one day I noticed this painting by Kandinsky in my GP's surgery that steered my life in the right direction. I was so inspired that I started taking responsibility for my healing and I can say that art saved my life and gave it new meaning.
I changed from being a beauty therapist to a complementary therapist and then on to be a visual artist because I had this compulsion to create, and I wanted to work with a bigger audience rather than just working one to one at the health clinic and salon. Last year was the first year that I exhibited my work internationally - I exhibited in New York, Stockholm, Vienna and Paris, as well as London. I was also invited to participate in and support the creation of Cecilia Vicuña's Hyundai Commission at Tate Modern. A multi-media installation made-up of sculptures, sound, music and video, that is on display at the Turbine Hall until 16th April 2023.
I feel fulfilled because doing what I love energises me and helps me to learn and explore new ideas, materials and techniques with enthusiasm. I hope to keep an open mind, take risks and be in constant motion and transformation to inspire people to do what they love and follow their dreams.
How has being Neurodivergent shaped the direction of your career?
I am driven by love and passion and because I am doing things with love and passion, my career is easier now but I had to go through loads of different jobs that didn't fulfill me first.
Do you feel that your job is a good fit for an ND woman?
Yes it is because many ND women are good at pattern and form recognition, memory, and attention to detail. ADHD helps me to create an abundance of original ideas quickly. When I go into "hyper-focus" I can accomplish high-quality work, in a short period of time.
What advice would you give to another Neurodivergent woman navigating their way through life?
It has helped me to have a support network, have resilience and work through my strengths and look after my physical and spiritual side too.