When did you realize art was your path?

When I started high school, I realized that academics, studying, memorizing, and testing was not my strong suit. By trial and error, I learned that I enjoyed photography and other mediums. When deciding what I could potentially study post high school, and for the rest of my life, I couldn’t think of anything but art. I didn’t enjoy any STEM or academic classes, and to be quite frank I didn’t excel in any of them either. I was fortunate to attend a public school with such flourishing arts programs.

What do you feel is crucial to your growth as an artist?

Reading is crucial to my growth as an artist. I am recently into reading memoirs. It’s a form of art that gives me a perspective into people’s lives and opinions. How they see the world they live in, how different or similar they are to mine, and how they feel about the life they’ve led so far. I want my work to feel relatable and sad and relatable, and I think memoirs are exactly that.

How do you thematically plan a piece of work and choose the right medium?

Each medium has different histories and connotations. For example, textile has a very domestic background and is linked heavily with female work. It’s seen as a “lesser” form of Art, seen as “Craft,” often labeled as lower than capital-a Art. I try to be conscious of these backgrounds when I work with a medium.

How would you describe your artistic style?

Friendly minimalist.

To what extent does the pandemic influence your depiction of art? Does it generate new inspiration?  

It influenced me because it impacted my life for a period of time, but I don’t think it completely changed my artwork or styles or anything. It does inspire just as any other experience does. What is so special about the pandemic is that it impacted everyone on the globe at the same time. It is a communal experience throughout the world. But, I think it’s not much different than losing someone important to you. It’s significant in the moment, but I believe it will pass with time.

How do you feel about being involved in an online residency program? How important is it to stay connected with the international art community?

I feel really happy! I went through a year and a half of online art college, and it feels like class but with people with all different backgrounds and experiences trying to discuss and create as much as possible. It’s so very important to stay connected, even online. Meeting people online allows for diversity that can’t be achieved any other way, and I love that.

What are your thoughts about the theme ‘artist on standby’? Tell us a bit more about your project…

I think it’s interesting. When I was thinking about what being on standby means, I was thinking something like being ready for something. Being prepared for something to come, whatever it may mean. My thoughts and ideas for the project of mending and preserving, I think this concept applies readily, where I am on standby to mend, to fix, to repurpose clothing.

What do you want to achieve before things return to normal if it is to happen? Any future plans/projects?

I don’t have much, I think the idea of standby also applies here where I’ll hopefully be ready for whatever may come in the future. I’m also not sure what normal will look like. For now, this is the new normal and I’m okay with it.