You’re so young but seem so confident in who you are as a creator. Can you tell me about how you began making art?
I began creating art from when I was little. My mother always tell me stories about how I was always drawing when I was three and upwards. I actually started making jewelry at the age of 10, and I sold some to family and friends. I was always fascinated by all aspects of art, whether it was physically making items, just drawing and using a tablet to create digital art.
Now, you live in Brisbane, Australia but you’ve lived in Hong Kong. You also come from a mixed background. Have the cultural differences between Australia, China, and your own heritage played into what you create?
Oh most definitely. Living in Hong Kong opened my eyes up to a wealth of experiences. I was homeschooled then, so I really got to explore Hong Kong, and lots of different places in China. Experiencing another culture that was just so different to Australia helped me explore my creativity and the fashion in Hong Kong is absolutely amazing. Growing up in two different backgrounds also helped my creativity. I was always exposed to many different things, which is wonderful.
You note artists Frida Kahlo and Mark Ruthko as some of your biggest inspirations and these two land on complete opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to what type of art they made. Frida a surrealist from Mexico and Mark an abstract-expressionist from Latvia. Can you pinpoint any specific influences each have had on your work?
They are definitely two of my favourite artists. Frida was so unique and influential because like wow, her art and specifically the self portraits are amazing. She’s just a very unique artists, and I love her work.
Mark Rothko’s use of colour is amazing. The thing I find so inspirational about his work is how simple, but how deep it is. He managed to incorporate so many different feelings and emotions into a simple piece of artwork, that can speak volumes to people. I love colour as well, and his artworks are just full of them. It’s beautiful. I did an art assignment on him last term, and I learnt so much.
All of your pieces are focused on either an individual girl or a group of girls. What about using this same subject matter in each piece is so important to you as an artist?
Girls are diverse. And they are so so fascinating. I never get tired of drawing girls, because you can make them unique. Every girl I draw is different and I just love how free the subject matter is, because you can literally make it your own style. I mean when you’re drawing, say an apple it has to kind of have all the same characteristics, but with girls you can just make everything so unique. And you can incorporate so many different things in, like clothes and jewelery and head pieces and decorations and it’s just so funky.
Real girls such as @mewsha and @mimielashiry serve as your muses. They’re both incredible young ladies. What about them has such an impact on you when it comes to inspiration?
Just everything about them. They’re both beautiful, and fascinating. They both have the most unique and diverse style, and I really love drawing them. I love that they’re real, and not like some unaccessible celebrity that some people use as inspiration. I guess I’d rather draw someone real, that I can relate with.
What I enjoyed most when reading about you is that you identify fashion as one of your biggest influences and I can definitely see this in your pieces. In fact, when I first found your art on Society6 I immediately saw the place that clothing, patterns, and color have in your work. Have you ever considered exploring fashion on a deeper level such as actual design and construction of clothing?
Yes I have. My dream is actually to have my own label, hopefully open my own shop and just see my designs everywhere. I love all aspects of fashion, and constructing clothing is my next step. I have zillions of designs just piled up on my desk of pieces of clothing that I want to create.
“Anything and everything can be an inspiration to creating things.” You said this when we spoke earlier and I wanted to touch back on this. Older people often think that young people have no sense of the world around them, but you so wonderfully do. What role do you think art plays or could play in instilling curiosity and thirst for learning in all people?
I think art plays a role in everyone’s life, whether it is observing and appreciating, or making it physically. Everyone experiences art at some point. It definitely opens up your eyes and makes you aware of your surroundings. As you develop, create or just experience art, I feel that everyone just wants more of it. It’s beautiful.
What words of advice would you give to young people who love to make art?
If you love to make art, just keep doing it. It’s honestly one of the most fulfilling things anyone can do. It really brings so much happiness, so if you love to do it then keep going and never stop.
Interview by: Ana Luz Jayme
Written by: Ana Luz Jayme
Art by: Ronia Garrett-Benson