With their sideways look at humanity, this Brighton graduate’s images have a tongue-in-cheek subversiveness to them which can leave you laughing, disorientated and despairing all at the same time.
How would you describe your practice?
My practice is shifting constantly. At the moment I work a lot with shapes. Although I graduated in graphic design, towards the end of the course letterforms completely dissolved into colour blobs. A particularly formative recent project focussed on the relationship between the observer and the observed. Here I celebrated the bond between the two situations, which are often viewed separately, as I believe an artwork or an event of any kind loses its validity without a viewer. Perhaps it was the thinking – more than the drawing – involved in this project that I took most from but it nonetheless helped to form my style, as well as my understanding of how I want to approach shapes and colour.
What inspires you to make work?
I am inspired by everyday happenings. These days, I am mostly fascinated with the shopping channel QVC, new supermarkets and the lottery. Perhaps art books would work well for inspiration too but more often I find myself looking at the Daily Mail and feeling inspired. Also, looking at Tumblr can damage anyone. I try to limit my access to it.
Some of your illustrations were used in the identity for the Brighton Degree show 2014, how did you approach this brief?
The brief was a collaborative effort with Melita Pupsaite. The University of Brighton graduates are known for their unique style and are certainly not afraid to state that every year. This led me to think of the image of a man flashing; it is at once fearless and momentary, hiding many things behind his coat and, with zero fear, displaying his ‘tools’ to everyone. The 2014 degree show was momentary too — but it would also be remembered. A great amount of time was spent working on this project and developing this idea, particularly as it fell victim to censorship. Censorship is a very interesting matter to both the creatives and those censoring. It is challenging to re-think an idea which you believed in but it's not over; it is still workable. That’s how we had to approach this brief in the end.
What are you working on at the moment and what’s next?
I am continuing my ‘working men’ series. In the past two years I have developed an interest in this subject-matter. I have a great opportunity at present to witness the day-to-day habits of working men. It is enjoyable to see how electronic equipment such as the conference call machine and the fax help workers throughout their day.
If you could collaborate with anyone on a project, who would it be?
I would like to collaborate with silent, everyday men. I think animals would be great collaborators too but they can’t draw.
cargocollective.com/LinaRumbutyte
