Right now I am listening to me Yesterday//Corded - Flying Lotus and flipping through Athena's tumblr. It's the perfect soundtrack to my perusing as it compliments that delicious obscurity and captures that flutter of excitement that I get from seeing her work. Add to that, it almost takes you to another world but it doesn't force you, (it's kind of like those choose your own adventure books!) which makes it all the more allusive and magnetic. If I'm making no sense at all, read the interview I had with her, jump on; athenacalifornia.tumblr.com, or better yet, come to AFYM (she will be collaborating with artist Hannah Bronte, QCA) and see for yourself!
1. Tell us a bit about what you do?
Art school – sculpture major. Graduate in 4 weeks, so its crazy busy at the moment.
2. And on your days off?
Tumblrrrrrr-ugh.
3. How would you describe your work?
It has been described as ‘clunky d.i.y’. Though, I don’t totally agree with ‘clunky’. I like to think that I try to make sophisticated objects using unsophisticated materials like Styrofoam and concrete. With my videos, I’m exploring ideas of spirituality manufactured through popular culture.
4. What do you find is the most exciting and rewarding aspect in your working process?
Best bit is when it's done and people are engaging with the work.
In the working process the most exciting and rewarding aspects are
- Shopping for materials
- Shooting footage
- Getting things done in a day
5. What motivates you to create?
The Internet.
6. Who inspires you at the moment?
Laurel Nakadate, Brooke Candy, Ryan Trecartin, Spike Jonze, the pornstar Belladonna and the writer Chris Kraus.
7. What’s next in terms of using different media/challenging yourself?
Working with performers other than myself in my videos.
8. Who would you most like to work with (living or dead) and why?
Marina Abramovic and Belladonna. I’d be so star struck. They would push and challenge me in different ways performance wise.
9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what would you like to be doing there?
In L.A, driving a jeep. Manufacturing myself into some sort of icon.
10. 3 words that describe what you’re working on for us?
Ambiguous. Lo-Fi. Pop.
11. What was the best/worst/weirdest advice your mother gave you?
Don’t trust men who wear jewelry. Seems like a very gendered thing to say but she thinks it’s a sign of an obnoxious ego and that it’s best to stay away from those kinds of people.
