AIMEE MANDALA
It seems like you came out of nowhere and decided to start showing work. What led you to making that decision?
I absolutely came out of nowhere! I did a few drawings towards the end of last year, and then January 1st just decided, fuck it. I like this. I am going to do this. To me that meant spending time making art, but also starting to apply to open calls at art galleries. Having my work on a gallery wall next to other artists was a way of getting outside of my comfort zone, pushing myself to grow creatively and allowing myself to see and be seen as an artist.
Your work has incredible detail. Did you go to school for art, or is this just a superpower?
I think it is a combination of things. There is a part of it that feels somewhat like a superpower, one I had no idea I possessed until recently. But since I’ve recognized it, I have worked very hard at developing it. When I got on this whole drawing kick, my dad said something that really resonated with me, that “Talent without work does not flourish.” I never went to art school, although I did take a handful of painting classes after I graduated college where I made generally bad art and usually was frustrated with my work. I think that’s partly because I didn’t have the drawing foundation, and partly because I doubted my capabilities. Looking back, I was unnecessarily hard on myself. I grew up in a family of architects, and I always saw myself as less technically inclined and more “free” in my creative facets. For most of my life, art for me was in the form of creative writing, which is the path I chose in college. It’s ironic in some ways that I have found myself here, drawing as detailed as I do. Believe me, I am just as shocked as you.
Your current work seems like a building series. What are you up to with that and how did you get started with the hands and tools?
Yes, it’s totally a series. I became really inspired by the beauty I saw in something I didn’t think was celebrated enough. I’ve always been enamored with old things, things that tell a story, things that have lived through something. When I was a kid, as young as 6 maybe, I would frequently sneak out of the house and pop next door to my neighbor’s workshop and watch as he tinkered away on things. His name was Bob and he was probably in his late 60s at the time, and I think we both brought each other a little unexpected joy. He usually fixed up vintage items to resell. I was fascinated by the process. Last year, I stumbled across an incredibly skilled welder, and I was insanely inspired by him and what beautiful things he could make with his own two hands. Watching not only the creative process but the act of ‘making’ itself fascinated me. At the end of the day, his hands would be filthy, and all I saw was the beauty in it. That’s where this series began, with a hand covered in metal dust. Dirty hands soon led to tools. Somewhat similar to Pablo Neruda’s Ode to Common Things, I really enjoy seeing these simple, ordinary things portrayed in a way that makes them feel special. As far as ‘what I’m up to with all that,’ I think, without really knowing it in the beginning, I have been organically working towards a solo show. Whether that show is in my head, or on a gallery wall—nevertheless, it’s happening.
You are one of the new kids in The Program. Has being around this group started to change the way you are working, or what you want to work on?
I think right now I am just taking it all in. For someone who never felt privy to the art world, I am just simply in awe of the artists I have met and how inspiring they are. The energy, the synergy, the enthusiasm—it feels amazing to be around and a part of a group of people with that same fire. And yes, I do think being surrounded by the Usual Suspects (as they’ve been dubbed), will force me to grow in ways that pushes the structure of my current path— whether that is in the approach to my work, playing with different mediums, or exploring new subject matters and genres. Inspiration is a moving target.
You seem to have several irons in the fire. What's a typical day like for you, Aimee?
Fun fact: I change my clothes, on average, three times a day. I think this is actually a pretty decent reflection of my day and the different roles I play throughout the course of it. I am busy. Always. I start my day being active, it sets my head straight and I’m happily addicted to physical challenge. Then I transition into my day job which is deep in the corporate world as a top executive for an architecture firm. It’s fulfilling in a different way than art. I like the industry, being a part of the process of the built environment, and also being connected to making some positive change in my community. I have two young, very active boys, so they keep me busy too— before, after and sometimes during work. After they go to bed, that’s when the art happens, usually into the wee hours of the morning. And honestly, really any time I can squeak it out in between. To say I am obsessed with creating right now would be an understatement— just ask my husband. ;-) I oftentimes explain it like this: when you find out you have something you didn’t know you had, you want to catch up on lost time. I’m doing just that and I’m stoked to have found Shockboxx, a place where people see and understand that drive, but also possess that same undying need to share it unapologetically.
