ilke
Hyped artist Emilia Ilke is a multifaceted talent who, in playful images, twists and turns recurring motifs from everyday life. In her new serigraphs for ed. art, we meet two crying dogs and dancing piano hands. We caught up with her ta ask a few questions.
You often work with recurring motifs. In the past, for example, urns have recurred, now the piano and the dogs are motifs that you seem to be work on and rework a lot.
- I get so engrossed when I find a motif that is fun to paint. There are so many different ways to make them, it is impossible for me to make an inspirational motif only once and then never again. I learn something new for each version, get more polished and get to try new colors and shapes.
Tell us about the two motifs on the serigraphs!
- Hermansson's dogs started when I saw a fantastic picture on Instagram that the ceramicist Kakan Hermansson posted. She had made her take on the classic sailor dogs that stand in every other window in windswept huts by the coast. Her dogs had something extra and I simply asked if I could paint them. Dogs as a motive have always been close to my heart. It was among the first things I drew in my teens when the I started dreaming of being able to work as an artist.
- The piano has been around since childhood. I trained as a classical pianist as a six-year-old and have many mixed experiences from those lessons. Sluggish keys, hand sweat and a strict teacher among other things. I did not become a pianist, but I love to paint this motif, and I like to listen to piano music in the studio.
You work alternately with painting and collage, what determines which method you choose?
– I started with collage as a way into painting, to move on from pencil drawing and dare to use color. When I work with collage now, a lot of painting is always included, but in recent months I have felt that I want to pause the collages. I have worked out a method that makes it easy for me to work with them, but feel that I need more resistance now. I want to dig deeper into the painting.
When are you happy with an artwork? What have you achieved then?
- It is a feeling difficult to put into words. Something euphoric sometimes. It's about so many components; current mode, composition, colors, formats and sometimes even what music I listen to. When everything is simply right. Then I become like a child of 4-5 years who immediately wants to run and show the work to my parents.
What was it like working with serigraphy?
- It really cheered me up and inspired me! I tried printmaking at a preparatory art school almost 20 years ago, but did not remember much. It was so nice to be in a new place and to learn a new craft and to have Catarina's expertise to lean on. She guided me through the process really well.
You have very dedicated followers on social media, how does that affect your work?
- Quite honestly, I do not really understand that it is real people who follow me and my work. My Instagram is more like a diary and a way to document what I do and myself in the studio. I feel quite alone, but not in a bad way. It would certainly be good if I learned to communicate better there, but right now I focus more on my art. Sometimes I ask for advice, ask my followers to like or make requests. But in the end, I mostly listen to myself anyway.
