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Nicola Mary Wyatt: The dark is light enough

Mimi Gray

Published

February 2022

When we work with a co-collaborator, it’s important to us to lean in to our style and work with people who are pushing the visual landscape on either side of the dark -–light spectrum. Nicola Mary Wyatt falls heavy and hard on the former.

The queen of goth; her aesthetic is heavily influenced by UK subculture. More specifically, Nicola’s brands [Mary Wyatt London and Parliament Tattoo] are born out of a relationship with contemporary tattoo culture & the heavy metal scene. A life of London grit and a fascination with gothic aesthetics has resulted in her darkly unique creative vision.

And, we’re seriously here for it.

How would you describe your personal style?

My style has always been influenced by the subcultures I grew up in. I discovered music at an early age through my mum’s record collection – from King Crimson and Black Sabbath to Holst’s The Planets and even ABBA. When I hit my teens I found my tribe in the Heavy Metal scene and the rest is history. I used to be a little more experimental with how I dressed, but as I’ve gotten older my style has settled into a more minimalist aesthetic.

I started my fashion brand because I didn’t feel there was much out there for the grown up goth, like me. My personal style tends to focus on simple, complimentary pieces that are timeless and made to last. That being said, I’ll never stop wearing band tees. I’m a big fan of boxy silhouettes, high necks and of course, I only wear black.

Describe your collection to our readers.

I have always found beauty in darkness, and am naturally drawn to dark art in all its forms.

I have admired many of the artists in the curation for years. Most of them are connected with the alternative music scene in some way, whether they are performers themselves or they find inspiration or muses in the melancholy world of heavy music.

I really love every piece in the collection, and was very honoured to curate such amazing artworks.

To me, art is catharsis in its purest form.

The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough. The Dark is Light Enough.

Some of my favourite pieces are by Heather Gabel who also participated in the recent art exhibition I curated with musician Courtney Love. Heather is a visual artist who also performs in an industrial dance band called HIDE. Both Heather’s music and art are exquisitely dark.

I love the photography of Laura-Mary Carter who is an extremely talented musician that has spent the majority of her adult life touring the world. To me her photos encapsulate both the freedom and loneliness that it is to be on the road.

Dark Art | Laura Mary Carter Photography | Darklight Art — Little Chapel, Laura Mary Carter [2019]

What does art mean to you?

To me, art is catharsis in its purest form.

What track are you listening to right now?

At this exact moment I am listening to a British death metal band called Bolt Thrower, but recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Halsey. Her new record was produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails who are one of my favourite bands of all time … as a ‘goth’ perhaps that is a little cliche but there we go.

How does your music taste influence your aesthetic/creative process?

This is such a huge question but simply put, it’s everything. Music has been the architect of my life.

Do we even need to ask … Dark or light?

In the words of Christoper Fry – The dark is light enough.

END

Written by

Mimi Gray

Mimi is the co-founder and director of Darklight, emphasis on the DARK. With a rich background in the creative industries [including a stint as head of visual culture at a leading ad agency], Mimi has spent years cultivating her signature aesthetic which she now brings to Darklight: anything monochrome, vaguely horrifying or featuring bite marks has probably come through Mimi’s filter.

Recognised as a Future Leader by Creative Equals and a passionate advocate for affordable art and mental health awareness, Mimi is also an avid reader [of horror and gothic fiction], mother to two Sphynx cats AND an enviable collection of rare houseplants. She lives in Amsterdam.