To celebrate the launch of Forty Liquors’ Pornstar Martini cocktail, we travel behind the scenes to get to know the talented artist commissioned with creating the striking packaging design. Exploding with historic art references and snapshots that challenge ideas of voyeurism and the female gaze, the work of Olivia Brazier is as intelligent as it is creative and quirky. With cheek and charm both key characteristics of the iconic Pornstar Martini Cocktail, Olivia’s work fits the bill completely. Olivia’s use of collage really made an impact with us here at Bookblock. Going far beyond references from the online digital age, Olivia’s interest in the female nude and its representation throughout art history has a huge influence on her work. Empowering, seductive and commanding common themes of Olivia’s work parallel that of the Martini. Join us as we sit down with Olivia to get to know more about her as an artist, and her working process.
Can you tell us a little bit about where you grew up and how that may have influenced your work?
I grew up in the South of France in an area that is famous for its lemons and light. It used to be a really trendy place for artists such as Matisse and Jean-Cocteau to come and work so there’s a lot of art built into the history of the region. There is a great deal of natural beauty too and an endless amount of colour. In the summer months a relaxed lifestyle takes over and many businesses shut for their holidays making it feel carefree. It is an appealing concept for life to be stripped back to the basics of eat, drink and be merry. This utopian idea is the underlying feeling I hope for my collages to encompass.
Do you have a favourite artist, designer or movement that has inspired your work/Direction?
The Italian Renaissance is really inspiring as this is a period when artists such as Raphael and Caravaggio were painting still lifes with visual puns and sexual symbolism imbedded into the fruits and vegetables. I love the idea of these super sexually-charged paintings being hung in ‘respectful’ locations under the disguise of being an innocent painting of a bowl of fruit.
I also draw a lot of inspiration from the female nude and its representation through-out art history. I am especially intrigued by the mythological genres painted by the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood in the 19th century when nudity was a popular feature.
Has collage always been your main medium to work in or has your work developed over time?
I began working with collage about seven years ago. Before that I studied painting at university and by my final year I was building metal sculptures from layers of found metals. I’d like to say collage was a planned move but I fell into it (well, more like tripped into it!) and haven’t looked back since. I am drawn to the idea of being given something that already has its narrative and then manipulating it and morphing it into a new purpose.
When you begin a new project do you tend to create a detailed plan of what you want to do, or is your work process relatively experimental?
Each of my collages have three main components; the food, the human figure and the background. I pick one of these to begin with and then try to combine it in with a second component. Once I have a good fit I then seek out the third component. It is an elimination game as I can only work with what has already been printed. I source these from a bunch of different books and magazines ranging from cook books, gardening manuals to vintage and interior design magazines.
Forty Liquors’ Pornstar Martini
Created in 2002, the Pornstar Martini has become the UK’s favourite cocktail. This Forty Liquors twist is delicate whilst maintaining all the associated sauciness. The ingredients are as follows; Passionfruit, Vanilla Vodka, Passoa, Pineapple Rum, Verjus, Champagne cordial, and Citric Acid. With layers of sophistication and handfuls of fun, the Pornstar Martini is a staple of any good cocktail soirée. To that, we say chin chin!
