New Signing Alert! Elen Winata joins the CIA family.

Based in Singapore and one of CIA’s freshest signings, we sit down with Elen to talk collaboration, perfectionism and not overthinking it…

Tell us a bit about your workspace.

I’ve converted one of the rooms at home into a studio space and work from home most of the time. While small, it’s filled with everything I need. The good thing about working digitally is that I don’t need a lot of space to work, just a computer. If I could relocate anywhere for a year, it’ll be somewhere that is vastly different from Singapore; maybe Australia, Bali or somewhere in Europe. I believe that our environment shapes the way we work, and I’m interested to see what kind of work gets produced when I live somewhere unfamiliar.

How often do you pick up a pencil?

Believe it or not, very rarely. Because I work mostly on the computer, I like to draw directly on the screen vs. on the paper. While I always start my drawings with a very rough composition on paper, I always do the detailed drawing works directly on the computer. This helps speed up my process as I’m able to move things around quicker and see what works. However, I do appreciate a good sketch session every now and then. There is no feeling like a pencil against the surface of a nice paper.

What has been your favourite project to date and why?

I don’t have a favourite project because there are different things I enjoy from each one, but the most memorable project I’ve worked on is the recent mural I did for Shake Shack.

I collaborated with a mural artist to translate my digital artwork into a painted mural because I do not have a mural painting experience.

As a self proclaimed perfectionist, I always want to work on everything myself and the thought of handing my work to someone else made me anxious. This project taught me that sometimes it’s okay to let go a little and trust the process (and others)! By collaborating with someone else, I was able to expand my work beyond what I knew was possible - the mural turned out great.

Are you from an artistic family?

While I am the first artist in my family, many of my family members loved to draw. Where I’m from, doing art for a living was seen as unconventional and impractical until recent years. Looking back, they probably would’ve chosen to do art for a living if they had been born in an era where that is possible.

Who or what had an early influence on your career?

Graphic novels were my early introduction into art and perhaps one of the greatest influences on my career. I was the child who always doodled in notebooks and exam papers, copying all the drawings I see in the books. That habit of constantly drawing never left and became a core part of my identity. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

How did you develop your visual language, has it changed over the years?

I was originally trained in Graphic Design, and as a result I love structured compositions and shapes. This influenced my art style where I often unconsciously use geometric shapes in my works. In a way, I did not find my style, my style found me. My past design experience became a comfort zone that I could build upon, and that familiarity reflected in my works. Currently I’m experimenting with different digital mediums like 3D and animation to see how I can bring this style further.

Do you have a clear vision for your work from the start, or is it a more evolutionary process?

Any idea that I have planned for my work, usually evolves into something else as I delve deeper into the drawing process. Some ideas can only be unlocked when I’m in the zone, usually hours deep into an uninterrupted drawing stretch. Perhaps being in the flow and not overthinking things helps me to create without the fear of failure or judgment. My mind is the quietest when I’m in the zone, and not having an inner critic tell me I’m doing things wrong allows the idea to evolve into something better than what I could imagine.

Name another artist that you’d love to collaborate with.

There are too many, but I would love to collaborate with someone who I can learn from - be it from how they approach their work or through their techniques. I’m deeply inspired by Daniel Arsham’s sculptural works and Felipe Pantone’s use of abstraction to convey ideas. Working with them would be a dream come true.

How has your cultural background influenced you and your work?

I was born and raised in Indonesia, lived briefly in the US for school, and came to Singapore for work. Having the privilege to live within different cultures has enabled me to understand nuances across cultures better. My multicultural background has helped me gain new perspectives and made me a more versatile artist.

See more from Elen here. 

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