We
really like Anna Bu Kliewer’s collages. We asked her some questions to
learn more about her process, her source material and her experience of
studying at CSM.
Follow her on Instagtram @annabukliewer and check out her blog here.
What is it about the medium of collage that you enjoy?
Collage is very much based on chance and intuition, it is playful and open-ended. Using scissors and glue makes it hands on, you decide what will leave and remain in the image. I
enjoy it because it does not start with a plan, you let your
subconscious and current mood guide the process. You work on images that
catch your eye and add smaller pieces that ‘make sense’. The
only restrictions are size and colour, otherwise you can create
whatever you like. You let your subconscious and current mood guide. What
I also like about collage is that you create a new abstract reality and
can be humorous and serious at the same time, it leaves room for
interpretation for the viewer.
Where do you find your source material from?
My material is a mix of vintage books from the 40s-80s and more contemporary fashion magazines. I
travel a lot, so my material collection consists of finds from
different parts of the world like Germany, South Africa and London. Science
and nature books from the 70s are possibly my favourite as the colours
have a certain tone and while sourcing for pieces to cut out I get to
read and learn new things.
Tell us about another collage piece that you thought was cool
B.D.
Graft from Amsterdam creates pieces that I really like. He creates
abstract pieces and the hues in his collages are very on point.
I particularly liked his @addyellow series on Instagram.
How was your experience of studying at CSM?
Studying at CSM was very laid back, it was about what you make out of it, so it taught me self-motivation.
If
you were able to come up with a ‘wanky’ artist statement, you could
make something in 20minutes and still pass, which I found a little
frustrating. I did my Foundation Year at Emily Carr in Vancouver, Canada
and was used to more criticism which pushed me further.
All in all I am unsure if it was worth £9000 a year.
However, there was a very important moment which pushed me further to collage: Collage
was always part of my working process, but never really used as a
finished piece. In one talk with my tutor I presented some collages and
said I wanted to paint them. He asked why I wanted to paint and
replicate them as they were already finished.
That stayed with me and I began to see and work on collage as a separate medium.
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