Project

SPOTLIGHT ON ELISE TERRANOVA

by ARTCONNECT BERLIN'S BLOG 01 Oct 21:51

Field of work

interview, theater, design

Website

http://blog.artconnectberlin.com/?p=1591

Description

Elise (www.artconnectberlin.com/imaginary_lines) is a designer and artist who creates work that unites site, purpose and vision. With a Bachelor of Design she has worked across many disciplines including public art, set design, interactive design and site specific installation. Elise comes from Australia, and currently works and lives in Berlin.

You have done a lot of impressive work, dealing with different projects, materials and people. Could you comment? Tell us which was the most memorable(maybe difficult?) and why?

Just over a year ago I cast pieces of decorative moldings from a heritage listed city hall. I took silicon reliefs from the building and cast them from hydrostone (a mix between concrete and plaster). Over a period of 10 days I cast 220kg of ornamental pieces, to make a panelled sculptural work. It was exciting because although I’ve had large work made before, I hadn’t experimented with those materials on such a large scale. It was also a time pressured project, so I mixed, poured and sanded all hours to get the work finished in time. The only way my friends could see me was if they dropped in to the studio for a chat while I was working.

In Berlin I worked on set for Bruce la Bruce’s Pierrot Lunaire at the HAU. During the day I scoured Autowerkstats to find old car parts and scrap metal. In the evening I was trying to source dildos for the production because the leading man was a lady, identifying as a man. I remember thinking what a change of pace it was. I realised then that I was redefining the sort of projects I was involved in.

What is usually your muse? Where do you get your ideas from?

As my work is mostly site specific, I often come up with ideas in the space my work is designed for. Travelling on the train or bus between cities can be a very productive creative time as there aren’t many distractions and there is that feeling of the journey. The piece between the start point and the destination, which very literally translates into start of the creative process. There’s also an Australian producer I work with regularly. When we talk, seemingly silly ideas come together to form concepts that are really fun.

Are there strong personalities around you which effect your work?

In the design or art world I think there are always strong personalities. Everyone has an opinion because at some point most people have had either a serious go or a dabble. To get your ideas through you need to be quite insistent. Design is about adapting so reducing everything down to what is actually important in the concept you can be flexible without diluting the idea.

You came to Berlin all the way from Australia, is there is something you miss from home?

There are a few things from home I miss. Family, friends, lovely weather most of the year round, rolls of takeaway sushi and apologising for no reason at all. Australians are very good at it. Oh you just bumped into me…I’ll apologize to that person just in case.

And why Berlin?

Berlin is a long way away. It is definitely freeing from familiarities which I think gives me more license to try different things. Being a city with such a turbulent past provides a great backdrop to challenge and experiment within. Here I feel surrounded by other creatives and can be inspired by someone else’s work any night of the week. It isn’t a city you need to rush through. It has it’s own rhythm.

Are there upcoming projects we could promote on our website? Or maybe you are planning a collaboration?

I am working on a short film called “I am hungry” with Bulgarian artist Yagama and a fantastic group of creatives. A few other bits and pieces too, but I can’t share any details yet.

Thank you Elise, for sharing your ideas and thoughts with us we wish you all the best in the future creation!

More visual material and documentation is available at Elise homepage http://www.eliseterranova.com/

http://blog.artconnectberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0068-300x198.jpg http://blog.artconnectberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/yuki-nakano6_sm.jpg http://blog.artconnectberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0466.jpg

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