Out the blue-box thinking has never been more apt when looking through Italian mother-tongued Silvia Barlaam’s entrancing and dark portfolio of work.
With degrees of madness (as well as postgraduate ones with distinction in Illustration, Film and Television Studies, and Creative Writing) Sylvia has curious passion and wonder bubbling from her eye sockets, to her brain and shooting from her fingers. Luckily, abstract thinking and mad people have always been my jam so I was delighted when she agreed to answer some questions.
Silvia is now based between Edinburgh and Rome, careening along the creative career path as a freelance writer and artist. She holds writing workshops, teaches creative writing and is also working on her own novel about Victorian-era conjoined twins. That old chestnut! Her illustrations are great inspiration for my own illustrated book project. Buckle up for some thought provoking words and pictures to paint your dreams and the twisty corners of your mind… Check out Silvia's website and blog for more details on what she’s up to or to get involved in one of her workshops. |
2) You’ve studied in some incredible places. Is there anywhere you've had an extremely memorable wow moment, brought on by place and location? A moment of utter inspiration and focus?
I sat for an hour in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, thinking 'this woman was alive, and now I am looking at her and wondering who she really was'. Inspiration comes from all over: something heard, a beautiful sky, all the questions about life we carry inside of us.
It will sound very dramatic and put-on, but it's just the way I am: sometimes I feel with an intensity that is overwhelming and I can't cope with it unless I pour it out on paper, with writing of drawing.
I sat for an hour in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, thinking 'this woman was alive, and now I am looking at her and wondering who she really was'. Inspiration comes from all over: something heard, a beautiful sky, all the questions about life we carry inside of us.
It will sound very dramatic and put-on, but it's just the way I am: sometimes I feel with an intensity that is overwhelming and I can't cope with it unless I pour it out on paper, with writing of drawing.
There is also a sense of wonder at creating something. The best moment in relation to writing was applying for the innovative Master in Creative Writing at Napier, and being accepted. With English being a second language for me, it was important to prove to myself I was, in fact, capable of making it. And I have :) The best moment in relation to art making was realizing that, even if (for a number of reasons) I had not been drawing for 15 years, I was still buying art supplies. My heart was obviously into it and better at remembering what is important to me, what makes me happy and a better person. |
3) I see you like the weird and wonderful- conjoined twins, surgical diaries- is this where you draw most of your inspiration? The darker shades of the moon? Absolutely. Many are quite surprised at some of the things I write or draw because I have a sunny, bubbly attitude, and people do not expect me to be attracted by darker themes. I am, though, and I'm very aware of the restrictions contemporary society puts on the individual (be like this, be young, do this, don't be that, etc.) and how many of our instincts are suffocated or denied. I suppose I am fascinated and curious about the layers everything is covered with: politeness becomes coldness, beauty and youth becomes absolutes, etc. I love weird and wonderful and the freedom that should come with it, the acceptance of all that is in nature. 4) What are your aims and desires as an artist? Where do you see yourself in ten years time? I just want to produce, produce, produce and get better and possibly earn a living from doing this, because it is the best I can do, and I do believe people should be allowed to do what they are good at. I tried fitting in another construct, doing office jobs and other jobs, and I can do well, but it's just not what I am good at. What I am best at. In ten years time...I will be still doing this, writing and drawing and printing and learning and producing and getting better :) 5) Any advice for aspiring, experimental creatives? Do. Make. Practice. Experiment. Enjoy. Never give up, sometimes take a break or do less, but remember we are all different and we all like different things. Keep learning. Find similar creative minds and offer support and exchange ideas :) |
6) I'm a big word fan and imagining what context they hold for each person. I think you are too! I'm that vain, I thought I'd try a different approach. I've taken some words from your website and if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see what scenes and thoughts and images they bring to mind:
That’s really cool! And yes, I definitely am a word fan, I'm working on a long-term project based on words from the Oxford English Dictionary...
That’s really cool! And yes, I definitely am a word fan, I'm working on a long-term project based on words from the Oxford English Dictionary...
a) Whimsical My art-all art, the joy of unexpected connections and meanings b) Curious Me, all the time. Everything is interesting! And wonderful! c) Scribbling Jotting down ideas, never a waste of time d) Haptic That sense of exploring something and discovering new feelings, perceptions. 'Play' as a most important way of discovering ourselves and the world. e) Daydreaming Always, nothing wrong in indulging our inner world f) Air soft Ahahha, it's a sport. A good way of spending a day outside without hurting anyone g) Urban magic Great novels full of mystery and supernatural things! A way of looking at our world with starry eyes. h) Dead machinery My favourite quote: "Our awareness is all that is alive and maybe sacred in any of us. Everything else about us is dead machinery.” -- Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions |
6) Can you tell me more about your workshops?
My take on writing workshops is that talent is an unfathomable element, but craft, discipline and perseverance and practice can certainly be worked on. I keep working on my own writing skill, and I expect I will always do.
I want to do what is the best for the story at hand, and I want to understand what the writer in question wants to achieve. My aim is making writers aware of the tools at their disposal: they are in control of the words, not the other way around. I like to do close reading in my workshops, which is reading carefully and actually realizing how much care, meaning, foreseeing and structure an author can write into a single passage. I was taught to look for the motivation in a story: what is this story for? Because that answer brings all sorts of other revelations about how to best write that particular story.
In my workshop, I like to share what I know in the most useful way to those participating, so that they can then apply it to their own writing. For the moment, I am focusing on short story writing workshops, making sure that structure and characterization and motivation are there and if not, how to write them in.
Most importantly, I want to show that there is no need of fearing an empty page, because it is only a page waiting to be filled with our ideas.
My take on writing workshops is that talent is an unfathomable element, but craft, discipline and perseverance and practice can certainly be worked on. I keep working on my own writing skill, and I expect I will always do.
I want to do what is the best for the story at hand, and I want to understand what the writer in question wants to achieve. My aim is making writers aware of the tools at their disposal: they are in control of the words, not the other way around. I like to do close reading in my workshops, which is reading carefully and actually realizing how much care, meaning, foreseeing and structure an author can write into a single passage. I was taught to look for the motivation in a story: what is this story for? Because that answer brings all sorts of other revelations about how to best write that particular story.
In my workshop, I like to share what I know in the most useful way to those participating, so that they can then apply it to their own writing. For the moment, I am focusing on short story writing workshops, making sure that structure and characterization and motivation are there and if not, how to write them in.
Most importantly, I want to show that there is no need of fearing an empty page, because it is only a page waiting to be filled with our ideas.
7) I believe you have some paper artwork on display. Can you tell me more on this?
Not on permanent display, but I am working on it. Some of my work has appeared in a zine pro-Scottish independence and I know that material has been archived in an official place. At the moment I am doing some Art Events around the UK, so my work will be on show in Glasgow for a day, at the Baltic in Newcastle for two days, and in Liverpool and Manchester for two days (all in occasion of Artists Books Art Exhibitions).
It's a long way, but a fun one.
Not on permanent display, but I am working on it. Some of my work has appeared in a zine pro-Scottish independence and I know that material has been archived in an official place. At the moment I am doing some Art Events around the UK, so my work will be on show in Glasgow for a day, at the Baltic in Newcastle for two days, and in Liverpool and Manchester for two days (all in occasion of Artists Books Art Exhibitions).
It's a long way, but a fun one.
9) Finally- favourite cup of coffee! Can be real, imagined, a time, a place or just that first cup of go go power in the morning....
Ooooh, coffee! I love a strong, sweet espresso Italian style in the afternoon, and the double caramel macchiato they used to make in Costa.
Wrapping your hands around a warm cup of coffee and switching the pc on and dreaming... :)
Ooooh, coffee! I love a strong, sweet espresso Italian style in the afternoon, and the double caramel macchiato they used to make in Costa.
Wrapping your hands around a warm cup of coffee and switching the pc on and dreaming... :)