Looking closely at the microworld through a lens-interview with Monique

Art isn’t easy.

Sometimes you have to just dive in and let the creative powers within you find a way out into the world. It takes intuition. It takes openness. It takes a certain kind of guts. But, somehow, you work your way into the creative moment, the place where the magic happens. As Bob Ross used to say, “Anything that you believe you can do strongly enough, you can do. Anything. As long as you believe”. 

This is how it is for artist Monique, a Deakin Arts student, who spoke about her recent miniature photography collection. 

What are your first memories of being creative?

The [COVID-19 pandemic] was probably the time when I first got the chance to really dive into my creative side as I was suddenly gifted with a lot of free time! I initially started painting using watercolour, and not long after, I turned to acrylic. Became a major fan of Bob Ross and his easy-going tutorials. [I also] began to use Adobe Illustrator, sparking my interest in graphic design, which is now one of my main creative outlets, along with photography.

How long have you been involved in photography?

I have always loved taking photos even before I got my own phone. I would use my parent’s phone to take silly pictures of my sister, or pictures of my pets. I have always been interested and had a curiosity in capturing moments. However, it has only been this year that I have been introduced to a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera and have officially started exposing myself to new ways of expressing my creative interests through photography.

What tools do you use for this collection?

I just used a bunch of random objects that I found around my house that I thought could fit into the microworld. 

How do you choose your subject matter?

This series of photos was for an assignment for one of my classes. The teacher had a bunch of these mini figurines that we were able to pick from, and I picked the little girl with a school uniform, as you can see from the pictures. I picked this figurine as it reminded me of my schooling years. I was blessed with a very fulfilling high school experience; I was given so many opportunities to grow and develop, which shaped the type of person I am today and has influenced the legacy that I would like to leave behind in this world. Leaving that chapter of my life was something that I had to wrestle with for some time, but entering university now has been full of new, fun and interesting experiences that I’m sure one day I will miss just like I did at high school. 

Why go small?

I found it interesting discovering how I could use this format to explore how I could personally relate to this mini figurine and create images that correlate individually with my own life. To some, the figurine might seem like an ordinary object, but through painting the figurine, and assembling the mini sets of the pictures, I was able to create artwork that I was able to relate to and hope that others might be able to relate to as well!

What is the difference between miniature photography and ‘ordinary’ photography?

For this series of miniature or microworld photos, I was forced to think about the world that the figure is living in and create that world according to their scale. For ‘ordinary’ photography, it might not be something that is necessarily thought about. Through taking these pictures I was able to appreciate our world that we live in, and pondered how in our great big world, in a different perspective, we can also be viewed as these small figures.  

How do you come up with ideas for your artwork?  Where do your ideas come from?

Usually I begin by developing a mind map, writing certain words, and sketching little pictures and symbols and words that remind me of the topic. After this, Pinterest is my go-to for inspiration to expand my creative juices and then I start developing ideas, based off of what I have found that I relate to the most and what I find most visually appealing. 

Do you collaborate with artists?

I have yet to collaborate with anyone through art but would definitely be open to developing artwork with other people! However, my sister is someone that I often bounce my ideas back and forth with! She gives me plenty of ideas and is always there to push my creativity.

Do you express yourself in other creative outlets? If so, what?

I started by creating simple watercolour and acrylic paintings, but in the past few years, my main creative outlet has turned to graphic design, mainly using programs like illustrator and photoshop. However, this year I have become very invested into photography, and hope to continue to build on this new interest I have found! 

What do you usually do when working on a collection? 

I am usually listening to music anywhere that you find me. I don’t have specific music that I listen to while I work, however I am a big swiftie! 

What does your art do for you? Why make art?

I think I am definitely more of a visual learner, so I feel like my brain immediately thinks of images, pictures and different visual concepts while I am learning and digesting new information. I love investigating new topics and ideas as well as concepts, and then figuring out how I can make it my own into something that I resonate with and something that looks like me squished into a piece of artwork.  

Where do you see your work heading to? 

Honestly, I create my work just for myself! I love developing ideas and new concepts and that is what I feel is the best part of creating art. If I got the opportunity to present my work in any way, I would definitely take it and would feel so honoured that my art is worthy enough to be shown to the world!

Writer: Matthew Phillips

Editor:

Artist: Monique Greig