The Alpine Fantasy of Victor B & Other Stories. Publisher: Serpent's Tail, Jeremy Ackerman & Eileen Daly (eds), pp37-47. ISBN/ISSN 1-85242-926-7 2006.
I have always written short, autobiographical narratives which have accompanied my installations and paintings; in publications for shows at The Riverside Studios, Hammersmith (with Helen Chadwick & Anette Messager); The ICA Gallery (A Bed of Roses); Unit 7 Gallery, London (4 Chairs for Francois), and more recently, in catalogues for 'Girl' (New Art Gallery Wallsall), and East International 2001.
In 2005, I was invited to submit some short stories to ACE, who were putting together an anthology of fiction by artists. I met regularly with the editors, Eileen Daly and Jeremy Ackerman, over the following year to discuss my work, and which pieces would be included in the collection. They eventually selected three stories for the anthology, and at the same time, they continued to encourage my writing as an individual endeavour.
The three interlocking stories in this output employ a descriptive narrative, focusing on objects, clothing, and contrasting environments, and were the result of a collaboration between The Arts Council of England and Serpents Tail - bringing together a 'unique collection of fiction by 17 of Britain's leading contemporary British artists', among them Jake Chapman, Balraj Khana, Ian Breakwell, and Edward Allington. The publication was funded by The Arts Council and by The Elephant Trust.
The resulting Anthology, titled The Alpine Fantasy of Victor B & Other Stories, ('a haunting exploration of the impulses that drive today's artists') was launched in December 2006, at Tate Britain, with readings from the Anthology in The Clore Auditorium, by Mikey Cuddihy, Chris Hammond, Janice Kerbal, and Balraj Khanna. In May 2007, I was invited to take part in WAIF (Women't Art International Festival) in Cumbria, along with Ali Smith, Kate Pullinger and other more established writers, where I read my short stories, and took part in a panel discussion.
Since contributing to the Anthology, I've completed a Novel, and I'm working on a collection of short stories, which the editors of the Anthology, Eileen Daly and Jeremy Ackerman are hoping to bring to publication.
This research outcome as well as allowing me to develop my writing independently, has lead me to examine the differences and similarities between writing and painting which will continue to be a focus for future research.
"Mikey Cuddihy's ...short stories ... have the same uncomfortable atmosphere as her paintings, but now I see the point of what she does. She's a natural and inventive writer."
(Saturday Guardian, 6 January 2007, 'Watch Words,' Adrian Searle)
"The stories themselves ... provide a fascinating insight into the often macabre thoughts of an eclectic group of contemporary artists. The best intrigue and paint little vignettes of other lives (Mikey Cuddihy, Gary O'Connor)."
(Cathy Lomax, Garageland, issue 4, 2000)
