I’m Carla, a designer, artist and sometimes animator working in Melbourne’s south east.
When I started out, my work focused heavily on waste and it’s morphed long term into the greed
and corruption that causes the desecration of our natural world. I like taking big uncomfortable issues
and displaying them in a way that makes them comprehensible
WE’RE ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH YOUR POLITICAL, FEMINIST, CLIMATE ACTIVIST THEMED WORK.
WAS THIS ALWAYS A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR ART OR WAS IT SOMETHING THAT
SEEPED ITS WAY INTO YOUR WORK AND LIFE OVER TIME?
I was raised by left leaning parents, my dad has composted for all time and grows his own food. Working in retail I became overwhelmed
by the sheer amount of waste that goes into the public’s consumption. Over the years my hyperawareness and anxiety over waste drove
me to become more aware of the systems in place that prioritise mindless profit, and the colonial attitudes that have destroyed country.
by the sheer amount of waste that goes into the public’s consumption. Over the years my hyperawareness and anxiety over waste drove
me to become more aware of the systems in place that prioritise mindless profit, and the colonial attitudes that have destroyed country.
One day I drew a small artwork that resembled the indigenous flag and it became my most influential piece.
It was shared widely and printed For invasion day protests, as I realised the design was beginning to escape me, I donated to Clothing
The Gap for exclusive manufacturing to combat the privatisation of the indigenous flag by WAM clothing.
The Gap for exclusive manufacturing to combat the privatisation of the indigenous flag by WAM clothing.
WAM recently stole my artwork to print on new merchandise for NAIDOC week 2020 and I had to ironically send a cease and desist.
So you can say my art and its purpose has greatly transformed since my initial waste awareness artworks. It’s become heavily politicised,
and it’s not really something I anticipated happening. However it gave me the opportunity to pay the rent, and it matured my perception of
environmental activism.
So you can say my art and its purpose has greatly transformed since my initial waste awareness artworks. It’s become heavily politicised,
and it’s not really something I anticipated happening. However it gave me the opportunity to pay the rent, and it matured my perception of
environmental activism.
ANIMAL, CARTOON OR POP CULTURE ICON THAT YOU MOST RESEMBLE IN PERSONALITY?
Daria has been my logo since I started out but I’m definitely more of a Jane. In Disney I’m probably a Meg from Hercules,
in terms of Avatar I took a quiz that concluded I was Toph. I just took another buzzfeed quiz that concludes I am just Daria.
Let’s go with that.
in terms of Avatar I took a quiz that concluded I was Toph. I just took another buzzfeed quiz that concludes I am just Daria.
Let’s go with that.
WHAT’S A SPECIAL TALENT YOU HAVE OUTSIDE OF ART AND DESIGN?
I can make Inkboy laugh until he cries, and I can find the negative in any situation.
WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING WHAT ARE YOU OCCUPYING YOUR TIME WITH?
Self doubt and looking at pins online that I never buy.
BETWEEN DESIGN, ANIMATION AND ILLUSTRATION YOU HAVVE A VERY RECOGNISABLE STYLE.
WAS ART ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT CAME EASY TO YOU OR WAS IT SOMETHING YOU HAD TO
WORK HARD AT?
I used to do traditional oil painting and worked on sole pieces that took months. Design taught me to create my own unique
compositions and made my work more commercial and easy to digest. Art was something that always came naturally to me
but I’m constantly having to work at it. I’m nowhere close to where I want to be.
compositions and made my work more commercial and easy to digest. Art was something that always came naturally to me
but I’m constantly having to work at it. I’m nowhere close to where I want to be.
WATER SLIDE, WATERFALL OR WATERHOLE?
Waterhole, I have dreams of falling forever and the g-force pull is not my friend.
Unless a waterhole is one of those things you can fall into then none of the above.
YOU INJECT AND FIND HUMOUR IN SOME OF THE DARKER SUBJECTS THAT THE WORLD HAS TO FACE.
IS COMEDY A BIG PART OF YOUR WORK PROCESS OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT COMES NATURALLY?
I used to think I was funny enough to do improv comedy, and even did a comedy festival show a couple of years back – not anymore though
because I didn’t feel good enough to continue. I use comedy to deal with the fact that I am terrified of the trapped methane that’s escaping
from melting arctic ice.
because I didn’t feel good enough to continue. I use comedy to deal with the fact that I am terrified of the trapped methane that’s escaping
from melting arctic ice.
Humour is a good way to talk about uncomfortable topics (not in a belittling way) but raising awareness to the world
around us – something that a lot of us living in suburbia don’t have to face on a day to day basis. We’re basically living in the matrix and
I use humour to wake y’all up.
around us – something that a lot of us living in suburbia don’t have to face on a day to day basis. We’re basically living in the matrix and
I use humour to wake y’all up.
IT’S BEEN A LONG DAY AT WORK AND THERE’S NOTHING IN THE FRIDGE. WHAT ARE YOU ORDERING OUT
AND WHERE FROM?
A goddamn curry laksa, LAKSA KING.
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE GAVE A FUCK ABOUT?
The world they’re leaving behind when they die, not everything they have to “accomplish” while they’re alive.
And trust me a eurotrip isn’t an accomplishment, I went on one and came back worse off.
And trust me a eurotrip isn’t an accomplishment, I went on one and came back worse off.
WHAT’S A TALENT YOU WISH YOU HAD?
I wish I wasn’t so numerically challenged, counting is really fucking hard and you need it more in art than I would have thought.
WHAT’S A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT’S TAKEN YOUR BREATH AWAY?
I used to have asthma. But probably the first time I tried a juul – don’t do it it will ruin your life.
Carla is always creating and sharing her work online
so be sure to keep up with her day to day work on their instagram
Much love x
