@agnese_taurina_illustration

Instagram: @agnese_taurina_illustration Facebook: www.facebook.com/AgneseTaurinaIllustration Cargocollective: www.cargocollective.com/agnesetaurina

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

I am from Riga (Latvia) but I spent last 4 years in London where I studied graphic design and illustration. I recently finished my BA studies at Central Saint Martins and moved back to my home city for a year as it is cheaper to live/work here than in London and it allows me to invest more time in creating my art print collection. In my works I am exploring states of mind such as contemplation, ecstasy, trance. I often find these themes discussed in old yoga scriptures and Indian mythology. That’s why you sometimes see words /phrases written in Sanskrit in my works -they come from these texts. Parallel to making artworks I still create editorial illustrations, posters, book design which I also really enjoy.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

It is bold, sensual and decorative but still quite clean. I have noticed that my illustrations are possibly influenced by my graphic design practice - I prefer to use limited amount of colours and I make my illustrations similarly as I would design a poster.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

It is screen-printing because it gives nice textures and the result is always slightly unpredictable.

4. What is your artistic process like?

Usually I develop one image over quite a long time - initially I just follow my instinct and sketch something that just appears in my mind and then I let my sketches to sit in my notebook sometimes even for months. After a while I look at them with fresh eyes and finish them. This approach applies to my personal projects, but the process looks different when I work with commissions - then I begin with research, analysis, strategy.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

Love-making

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

It is my way of creating alternative realities so I rarely complain about things as I feel I have some special power to make my own version of this world.

7. Where did you study?

At Central Saint Martins

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? Working in an agency?

I quite enjoy being my own director. I am organised and entrepreneurial so freelancing / working with commissioned projects seems a good option for me.

9. What about in ten?

I have a secret business idea which is not related to art and which hopefully will make some good income, so that the rest of the time I can just make art prints.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

Make a shelter or an island to live in.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Inari Zushi - rice in a soya curd pocket

12. Favourite book?

I read a lot and I cannot pick one book but if I really tried - it would be something from Hesse or Tolstoy

13. Favourite genre of music?

I can live long periods without music at all or listen to some ethereal music such as Air, Ravi Shankar, Japanese folk music

14. What are your hobbies?

Walking long distances. I like both urban discoveries and mountainhiking / retreats in wilderness.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

From grade 1 until applying for Uni I was interested in architecture and I planned to study it at CSM. I even went to open days in the architecture department there but my inner voice whispered me not to do it and I ended up in graphic design/illustration.