How would you describe the process of creating your artworks in terms of storytelling in the context of the challenging 3D environment in which you have such a characteristic style?
I usually feel inspired by a single vision, sometimes it’s a particular character, sometimes it’s a “vibe” from listening to a song, other times it’s a one-line quote I came up with or overheard on the street. That one thing is the root of the artwork – then, I build a universe around it. I really want to capture a particular emotion or a state of mind through a single still or a short video. It’s hard to tell a story in such a short format so I have to really challenge myself and get creative.
Qonos is from earlier this year. The video is a part of the HUMANOID series, this is one of the 7 aliens, like the piece Dominion. The video is loosely based on Star Trek.
Liquid Dreams / this piece is about Voyeurism, exhibitionism and the male gaze.
In your work, we often encounter a humorous take on the male gaze combined with clever criticism, which is enhanced by your personal touch in 3D animation. How do you incorporate critical perspectives on this topic into your work? And how is the viewer supposed to perceive the often absurd situations in your art?
I don’t have any particular expectations on how the viewer should perceive the work. My goal in my work is to share my view of the world with others. I always hope that they will relate to it somehow. My view of myself is severely affected by the male gaze. From childhood, women have been portrayed a certain way in films, toys, stories, etc. So I can’t help but have that vision engraved in my self-image. I try to liberate myself from these constructs by acknowledging their presence in my life and blowing them out of proportion.
Libra Season is about consumer culture, people-pleasing and the shallow nature of human interaction after the internet (although it uses sound clips from a film called Nowhere which is actually from the 90s – but it still sounds like post-internet babble). It is part one from a trilogy called “I don’t know her”. The series is a satirical take on alienation and self-expression in a digital age of consumerism. leo.
A big part of your short animations and paintings is the depiction of female sexuality in an amplified way. What is your own attitude towards this topic?
I see myself as a bit of a shy person, so I live vicariously through these over-the-top characters. I also think that the human body is so fascinating – I don’t always see it as a sexual object. To me, the nudity in my work is not very sexual but rather an exploration of what it’s like to be a body – because that in itself is such an absurd concept.
Are the characters you portray based purely on your imagination, or can we see some similarities in any of the characters, perhaps people from your daily life, celebrities, and the like?
Most of my characters are loosely based on someone I know or a celebrity I’m fascinated by. I have an avatar of myself that keeps appearing in the background of my clients’ music videos. However, lately I’ve been making a lot of alien characters, so those are not exactly based on real people, but they are often based on Star Trek characters (very loosely though).
Cynner is from earlier this year (2022) and it is a collaboration between myself and a NY-based artist named Mab Lacas. The character is conceptualized by her through drawing and I brought it to life through 3D – this is an over-sexualized caricature loosely inspired by the Cynthia doll from Rugrats. The character’s name is Cynner.
Our current theme is “Full of Desire”. So I’d like to know what your dream goal is, or what do you desire for yourself as an artist right now and what would be your ultimate achievement?
At the moment, my desire is to get myself out of my comfort zone and dream big. I recently started my own company called XELEVEN with another co-founder and am the art director/ lead artist on all our projects. The company focuses on building interactive projects and metaverses. I think this is a real challenge for me right now, going from a self-employed artist in her small Berlin apartment to a cofounder of a metaverse studio in Vancouver – but I always desire to grow and push myself!
Salad Eating Bitches / The video is part 2 of the “I don’t know her” series. Just like Libra Season, the video explores consumer culture and IRL interactions that have been severely re-shaped by our online style of communication.
My last question is, are you currently preparing any new exhibition we can look forward to?
Yes! This year has been very busy with exhibitions, especially in the fall. I have two exhibitions in Berlin, one in Alte Münze and one above the LSD sex shop. I am also working on a big installation for Nxt Museum as part of the Amsterdam Dance Event, followed by an exhibition at the Museum of Design Den Bosch. I have a few shows in planning, possibly in Paris, NY, and Berlin – but that’s still in its early stages so I won’t announce it here. This year has been very fruitful for me and I am really thankful.
