Maisie Cousins’ photograph "Spilled" presents a vivid explosion of pastel pinks contrasted with creamy yellows and multicolored sprinkles, as a toppled ice cream dessert lies on a textured surface. A fly perched on the melting treat adds an element of decay and surrealism. The glossy, hyper-saturated style evokes a sense of both allure and repulsion, typical of Cousins' work, which challenges conventional beauty standards. The image serves as a commentary on indulgence and the messy intersection between desire and disgust. ...
Maisie Cousins’ photographic practice marries beauty and disgust, interweaving food, trash, flesh, insects and decay into a kaleidoscopic world of colour. Seeing things through Cousins’ eyes takes us into a bright and saturated Wonderland of toys, icecream, lips, stomachs and tongues, smears of lipstick, jelly and juice. It’s our bins, sinks and childhood bedrooms visualised by Barbie, coloured in by toddlers. It’s glorious, nauseating, glossy and stunning. Cousins’ compositions take us into a fever dream journey through a visceral, grotesque circus show. Her practice encourages us to let go of our societally imposed niceties, to eat in the nude, to spill, to smear, to befriend the trails of ants on the plate of dessert from the other night that we left on our floor. Be dirty, be trashy, be happy and be beautiful, all at the same time. ...
