‘Proof is in the Pudding’ by Jane Farrington

Dioramas inspired by patisserie delights and fake food. Theatrical miniature worlds to make your mouth water. Pop by the shop this autumn to join the feast created by multi media artist Jane Farrington.

Chiara chatted to Jane ahead of the exhibition at the shop which runs from 12th September until 24th October 2024

Chiara: Hello Jane and thank you for answering our questions today! Your dioramas are full of curious details and extremely atmospheric – we love them! I guess my first question is how did you originally stumble upon Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop?

Jane: I was a student in Birmingham in the 80s and remember stumbling across Pollock’s Toy Shop  on a research trip. I remember seeing Peter Baldwin behind the counter surrounded by wonderful Toy Theatres. I recall the atmosphere, the wonderful toys and printed  ephemera of my favourite characters Harlequin, Columbine and friends . Little did I know then what a significant part they would play in my art.

Chiara: When putting together this exhibition for the shop, did you have a specific idea or theme in mind?

Jane: I wanted to create unique tiny art pieces combining materials to invite the onlooker to be able to imagine being miniaturised and invited for tea at the tables. I hope they create a sense of timelessness and a decadent atmosphere. The magic of childhood and imaginary worlds have played an intrinsic part in my life and my creative journey. I hope you will enjoy these miniature delights as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

Chiara: Your artwork has a very specific quality, a kind of theatrical decadence. How would you say this came about? What has inspired it?

Jane: I have been interested in creating miniature props and sets for as long as I can remember. Having trained in Theatre Design, the thrill was to create props out of anything and everything to create an illusion on stage. This way of working has continued throughout my life and work and enables me to find objects and adapt them to create something different.

My parents made me a wonderful dolls house of our home out of an old chest of drawers when I was a child and they filled it full of furniture that they made and customised from other things.

I also adored Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of the Two Bad Mice, especially when they break into the dolls house and try to eat the fake food smashing it with a toy shovel! 

I was fascinated with the strange room in Miss Havisham’s house with the abandoned wedding table and the idea of fake puddings and pies faded and jaded by time.

Exploring old cookery books with wonderful prints of exotically named gateaux and patisseries has inspired me to develop theatrical costume characters in my images from times gone by.

Chiara: Have you been able to try something new while creating the artwork for this exhibition?

Jane: Well,  yes I have in the sense that I have developed new pieces using materials that I haven’t used before. Particularly experimenting with miniature moulds in plaster and combining materials to create qualities that require adapting and recycling materials.

Chiara: I know that you are also a collector of toys and theatrical objects: when did you start your collection? Do you have a favourite item?

Jane: I have collected toys and theatrically inspired objects for as long as I remember. I used to plan my Saturdays around jumble sales and  hop from one to another finding all sorts of treasures. I saved up and bought one of my favourite objects from a flea market in Birmingham which is a little diorama housing a magical tree with two weeny dolls sitting under it with a small dancing bear and a basket of strange fruits. I bought it because it reminded me of one of my favourite films The Singing Ringing Tree

I still get that feeling if I find a little treasure and think about how it might inspire some new work.