"PRESS"

I made the above collage really quickly today. It doesn't have that signature touch of a texta mark or anything, but it really encapsulates a whole bunch of stuff for me right now! My new 'mantra image'

In other news I was interviewed by Laetitia Mannessier, the editor in chief of French magazine 'Simon(e)'. I am featured in their section 'VIEWVIEW' this issue. You can look at it online for free (WOO!) Via this link

http://www.simone-magazine.com

 I am on page 76 I think. It's in French though oh la la, so for you uncultured brutes (like myself) below is the translation.. mind you I know I'm naive in thinking you're interested in reading this, but ah, how do you say..

"What the hell?"

— How do you start your collages ?

I start my collages quickly, on transient urges and sentiments, I'm a little slapdash in a sense that I favor the immediacy of something that doesn't appear too labored or considered, I like that awkwardness. I don't think about what is it to look like as a finished product, I just listen to the work, what it needs, thinking about what kind of images may eventually be suitable to inhabit the colourful, psychedelic playgrounds I make.

— Where do you find your images ?

I find my images in old books that I collect from Thrift stores. I have a disturbingly large collection. In front of me now are three stacks of books - to give you an example, some of the titles read: 'Every Woman's Medical Guide', 'The Geller Phenomenon', 'Developmental Psychology Today' and 'Australian Book of Cake Decorating'. As you can see, my sources are reasonably vast. The only criteria I have really is that they are usually from anywhere from the 1930s up until the 1980s, sometimes even the 1990s. They're never new books I get from Bookstores!

— Who are your 'girl icons' ?

I have so many girl icons! I just love Madonna, she IS an icon, but she has been an icon of mine since I was 14 and I heard Like A Prayer at a disco I went to. I adore Joni Mitchell because she gave me so many emotions, I love Peggy Guggenheim, Diane Keaton, Janis Joplin, Julie Andrews, Meryl Streep, Nina Simone... I could go on!

— What are your inspirations / artistic references ?

I am inspired by Leonard Cohen and his perpetual poignancy, e.e cummings, Rolling Stones lyrics... Visually I love Henri Matisse, Helen Frankenthaler, Pippilotti Rist, and Australian artists Mike Brown and Jenny Watson.

— You live in Australia, how does your city/country influences your work ?

I really love Australia and Melbourne in particular. I just got back from a trip to the States and spent a lot of time in New York. I love that city immensely but there's no place like home or something, and Melbourne has the best thrift stores where I find all of the books I use for collage imagery, and my wonderful art school friends are here and we have strange and obscure themed parties and lots of fun. The art scene in Melbourne is thriving intensely, it is really focused on youth, and the students at art schools here, it's fantastic. (Come visit!) Australian culture has influenced me in ways so ingrained I wouldn't even be able to identify them, but there's something to be said about the kind of "she'll be right" attitude that I've adopted with my work, I'm not really precious or anal when it comes to 'making' and I think there's an Australian kind of liveliness or exuberance in that. 

— Do you think we live in completely global world and you're more influenced by the internet ?

The internet has definitely been a fantastic platform for me to exhibit my work to a wider audience. Our world is definitely feeling a little more intimate since the popularization of the internet, and I think it's fantastic that friendships and professional relationships can bloom online, and that things can happen and contacts can be formed just through email and stuff. The world isn't completely global, yet, because that physical barrier is still incredibly relevant, especially for me with a 14 hour flight across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles - but I love how the internet makes sharing so easy, sharing of information, sound, and of course, the visual. It's like a big embrace except between you and the whole world, not just between you and one other person.

— You're using kids tools. Why ? How do they help you create ?

I don't know if markers are necessarily for kids, but I like them because they are so dynamic and versatile and vibrant, and easy to use. Markers have the best range of colours, like fluorescent pinks and pastel blues. I also use stickers and stamps and stuff because there is a naivety about them that I find very attractive, and there's nothing more satisfying than sticking a sticker down on a piece of paper knowing you can't move it!

— You're using manual/craft technics whereas a lot of collages are currently made with photoshop ?

It's just the way I feel most comfortable doing things, plus I find it is quicker and more straightforward to physically pick up a pair of scissors and cut something out rather than do it with a few clicks of a finger. Also I like how there is inconsistencies with my cutting out, that it's not prefect and that even though most people might see the work as a flat digital image, it's doesn't begin as such.

— What do you currently do in your life ?

At the moment I am in my last year at University, studying Fine Art majoring in Painting. I spend my time away from University blogging incessantly on my blog, making work for Rookie and any other jobs I may have at the time. I also write poetry and occasionally exhibit my paintings at various galleries in Melbourne. My friends from Art School and I spend a lot of time together just hanging out, going to exhibition openings, and partys oh!

— What are the projects you're currently working on?

I am an Illustrator for Tavi Gevinson's magazine 'Rookie' and there I post my own weekly 'diary' collage, as well as illustrate for articles and interviews. I have done some work for Urban Outfitters illustrating their catalogues, and also I recently designed an Album cover! Aside from this obviously I am constantly working on my artistic practice, painting, drawing, blogging, and very occasionally doing interviews like this one, which is so lovely, and I thank you very much for having me!

* * *

Anyway continuing on that thread there is an article on me at 'It's Nice That' 

http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/minna-gilligan

Also! I am in the show 'Strange Magic' curated by Petra Collins and Tavi Gevinson, which is at Space 15 Twenty (1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Los Angeles 90028) Obvs if you're in LA (I'm not) please go! It's on from July 21 to July 28.

Sorry. This is terrible. But may as well have all the heavy self promotion in one post I guess.. Please forgive me oh! Below are some pictures to help with the forgiving...