CreativPaper

Our childhoods can be a roller coaster of emotions and experiences. Empowered by stimuli and changes, both cognitive and physical, these times can have a lasting impact on all of us. Tapping into this nostalgia, we have Melbourne based artist Jess Merlo (). Referencing childhood milieus, her work consists of environmental references like sand from the beach she visited and social ones like toys and forms unique to her childhood. A Fine Art graduate from Monash University (), Jess is an emerging contemporary painter and sculptor that works in the tradition of organic abstraction. Using non-conventional materials and techniques, she paves a path to unique and personal results.
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Q) Since your work has such an organic theme running across is, what are your thoughts on plastic pollution and the impact it has on our oceans?

A) It’s so upsetting and disappointing to see the detrimental effect plastic pollution has on the ocean due to our careless actions. Personally, I try to do my part and cut plastic out in my life, and I encourage the people around me to do the same. I do plan to take another step in helping diminish the impact.

Q) What is the art scene like in Melbourne?

A) Melbourne has a very contemporary and experimental art scene I believe. It’s pretty exciting going to openings at galleries all over the city every week and seeing fresh works, meet new artists and other people within the field.

Q) Do you think society should do more to encourage the inner child among us all?

A) Sometimes I think that people take themselves too seriously and they need to loosen up a little bit and seeing an adult who brings out a playful side is quite refreshing and intriguing.

Interview originally published in CreativPaper issue thirteen.

CreativPaper Issue 15 Cover: photography by David PD Hyde ()
Model: Ashley Gibbin () available to read now on
issuu.com/creativpaper

Incredible sculpture by Kennedy Yanko () this piece is titled; Golden, Metal, Paint Skin, 56x42x23in, 2019. @ Kavi Gupta Gallery

“Never give up on the things you want out of life. The person with big dreams and persistence is more powerful than facts.” by

“With a population of 349,000 and an area of 103,000 km, making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The Capital and largest city is Reykjavik, with Reykjavik and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country being home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active, the interior consists of plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands.”
creativpaper.com/journal/iceland
@ Reykjavík, Iceland

In love with this 🖤. Wall Hanging, 3D CNC Milled Maple Wood by Nerdin Design Studio.

We couldn’t be more proud of her art is exquisite and most of the materials are reclaimed from her local community and beaches! Congratulations Deane on your current exhibition ‘In God We Trust’, curated by Nezka Pfeifer currently on view at until 16 November.

You don't have to be a believer of climate change to realise that our planet is in a state of accelerated motion when it comes to the weather. All around the globe, we are observing reports of freak weather conditions and this is only going to get worse. This is not a new concept; over billions of years, our planet has been undergoing constant change through its various extinctions and physical variations. It's just that there have been no other species that has had a drastic impact as we do. Artist David Curtis's work acts as a link between time and change. Over the last three decades as an artist, his themes have ranged from the earth in its early days along with dystopia, history, religion and philosophy.
Image: Druid Ruins, Acrylic in Canvas, 16” x 20”, 2019. David doesn’t have a Instagram account however if you want to get in touch with him his website is: davidecurtis.weebly.com more of his work in CreativPaper Issue 15.

Modern life normalises getting everything done at what feels like the speed of light. This false sense of productivity comes at a substantial cost. Not only are we accelerating our demise but we miss out on the subtleties and intricacies of life. Everyday visuals that are taken for granted. It is these frames that Mexican artist Jessica Alazraki draws her inspiration from. Currently living in New York City since 1998, her body of work titled 'Primitive Realism' turns the spotlight on portraits of Latino immigrants. A vital yet often misunderstood and misportrayed part of American culture. She studied at the Parsons School of Graphic Design. Becoming a mother led to her quitting her job to focus on her family but the urge to create led Jessica to discover drawing and painting. A medium that she has refined through the years.

Artist Jasmin Farrow's () fascinated with layers developed early during her time at The University of Sunderland where she studied art, design, video and photography. Her interest in layers transcends the physical and into the realm of narrative and meaning. Initially drawn into art via surrealism she also found inspiration in modern art with which she drew parallels to her ideologies. She was also passionate about music and sound and how it could be incorporated with moving or static images to add another dimension for the viewer. In 2012 she became very ill with M.E and was bed bound for almost a year. Eventually, Jasmin began to paint and create again; In our conversation with her, she talks about M.E, it's public perception and the impact it has had on her and the joys of spending time in nature. Link in bio to the full interview.

As a practising architect, Kip Harris () learned to pay attention to the spatial and aesthetic needs of people for whom he designed. He carried this interest into his photography that often deals with people in their workplaces. About this focus, Kip has stated: “There is a Taoist phrase: ‘Wei Will Wei,’ that has been translated several ways but the one I like best is ‘doing, not doing.’ When one has become a complete master of an action, he no longer has to think about how to perform the act but has become the act himself. I try to photography this.”
Image Credit: Elephant Minder, Karnataka, India by Kip Harris. Link in bio to read more about Kips photography.

CreativPaper Archive: Flashback to when we had a chat with the super talented photographer Darren Black (). The London based photographer knows a thing or two about pushing boundaries in his work but today amongst his creative process we talk about the obstacles faced by individuals from the transgender community. Interview originally published in 2016. [link in bio].