Interview with Ellie Malin

 Ellie Malin in Studio. Photo: Kate Ballis courtesy of Modern Times 

I first discovered Melbourne print media artist, Ellie Malin’s work through “that” collaboration  she did with Gorman early last year. I was awe struck by her ever so cool, bold edgy style and interesting use of woodblock as a medium. Her latest body of work, Moonflower is even more impressive. It has a beautiful harmony of colours, it’s graphic, playing with form that ignites our imaginations, all the while stamped with Ellie’s distinctive style. I’ve been meaning to get in contact with her for some time, so when I received her newsletter with word of her very first solo exhibition at Modern Times in Melbourne at the end of last year, while I couldn’t hop on a plane myself to view it first hand, I took the opportunity to ask her a few questions. I hope that you enjoy her answers, along with a selection of her latest work as much I do.

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself, Ellie Malin the artist?

Working in a creative field was something I always wanted to do. It always felt like the most natural place to be. Whether it was exploring the city through the lens of a camera or making objects out of clay, even when I wasn’t actively creating stuff I would be observing my immediate surroundings, absorbing and collecting bits of visual information along the way. I particularly like observing the world of architecture and nature and how we move through it. I’m fascinated with the impact and importance they have on our lives and had this idea that if I could translate the beauty and vulnerabilities that captured me and communicate them back to others, that would be the ultimate challenge and somehow, it involved becoming an artist! Printmaking seemed to offer the right kind of environment to explore those themes.

Was there one particular time in your life when you just knew that art is what you wanted to do or did you have other career plans?

Art is something I always wanted to do, but making the decision to ‘give it a go’ as a career wasn’t always a clear cut decision.

In 2007 I completed a degree in Fine Art majoring in printmaking from Monash Uni and after a couple of years of working in non-related fields I began to re-shift the focus towards developing a creative practice. Even after dedicating years of study and completing diplomas and degrees, it took some time to take a leap of faith and set up studio as a full time practice. Choosing to follow this path is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done. Let me just say that once the decision was made it became a lot easier.

What would you say has been the pinnacle point in your career to date?

I’m not sure I can pinpoint just one event. I’ve been really lucky to have had some amazing opportunities early on in my career. One of the major highlights has been printing at a few of the best printmaking workshops in Australia alongside incredibly talented artists. The communal studio has been a place of growth and connecting with like minded people where knowledge is shared and being in a professional environment.

Also, the gorman collaboration, which is probably the most well know project, was for me a dream come true!! I still have to pinch myself when I see someone wearing a piece from the collab.

And over the last few month exhibiting works at The Australian Print Workshop Gallery and a solo show ‘Moonflower’ at Modern TImes was an exciting time to see the body of work in one space, in public… (a little bit daunting actually!!)

Most of your work is either by using wood block and lino. Has there been any particular artist or era that influenced you to work with these mediums?

Whilst learning about the printmaking process I looked to the Japanese woodblock prints from the Ukiyo-e (‘the floating world’, Edo era) and Sosaku Hanga movement (creative prints) and also found inspiration with the abstract expressionists, pop art and modernists artists.

Most of my development work happens through photography, collage and drawing. I’m interested in how and image communicates to the viewer and I’m influenced by the everyday, streets I walk in, people I meet, design, architecture, travels, plus a good dose of daydreaming. Some artists and designers that I love in no particular order are: Kiki Smith, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Scholten & Baijings, Mirka Mora, Tadao Ando, Fornasetti, Japanese woodblock artists and Kandinsky.

Please tell us about your latest works, Moonflower?

Moonflower is an exhibition of colourful woodblock prints depicting an inspired landscape of ‘other worlds’. The beauty of nature, the man made and a fascination for impurities within it sparks the imagination.

In this body of work offcut shapes of paper are the starting point and are transformed into woodblocks for printing. These shapes become centre stage as the relationship between them is explored through layers of colours and textures.

Remnants, which once would have been discarded are now the stars, moon and sky and are telling a story about what might exist beyond the familiar. Stories unfold over time and new discoveries made between the layers of tones and negative spaces.

Do you mind sharing with us a glimpse of what we might see from you in the future?

I’m really looking forward to getting back into the printmaking workshop after the summer break where I’ll continue to develop artworks that explore colour, shape and textures on paper and will be examining how these elements translate into 3D and digital processes.

There are also a couple of collaborations in the works to look out for!

There’s a ‘dream to do’ list which includes all the people I’d love to work with, ideas that want to see realised and the unknown projects – the ones that are still outside my imagination – just waiting for the right opportunity to open up. My big dream though is for the work to connect with people, to be enjoyed and to communicate direct to the heart. This is my aim.

Thank you so much Ellie!

Readers you can follow Ellie’s work through the following social media channels:

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Mel

 Ellie Malin in Studio. Photo: Kate Ballis courtesy of Modern Times