Right now, it feels like the closest we can get to anyone is through a screen, so Louisa Clement’s art is right on brand. Her artwork involves avatars and virtual reality, with her practice exploring the new forms of communication brought along by the digital age. Giving us all something to think about while we continue to stay inside, we spoke to Louisa about VR, avatars and what inspires her art.
What got you into making art?
Actually there is no specific point, I was always dealing with art on different levels, so there was never something like a decision to make art, it was the logical step to study art and make art.
What are your inspirations?
My inspirations are the daily life and experience from newspaper articles, research and books.
Artwork by Louisa Clement. Courtesy Louisa Clement and Cassina Projects
Your work embraces VR and new technology, can you tell me about that?
To me technology is a tool to transfer content into an art piece, so If I have an idea in mind for an art piece I am searching for the strongest medium to form that content.
Can you tell me a little about your use of avatars and mannequins?
The avatar is a digital identity, as I deal a lot with communication and digital communication in my work. Mostly the question of how communication affects us and what is the meaning of the way we use it. To make the situation of communication visual I used mannequins, because the avatar is actually nothing really visual for me. Mannequins are place holders for human beings in my work as in real life. I decided to use mannequins because I want to have the questions I am dealing with in my work generalized and not connected to one special person or me. Also the points of standardisation were important to me.
Artwork by Louisa Clement. Courtesy Louisa Clement and Cassina Projects
What advice would you give to young women wanting to make a career as an artist?
I would advise every young person to work hard, concentrate on the work and question yourself about what it is worth to be an art work in terms of content and intention. See as much art as possible and reflect the world you are living in.
What have you been up to in quarantine?
I was very concentrated in working in my studio and preparing everything for the next exhibitions.
What are your plans and hopes for the future?
I hope to expand my skills in terms of research, media and content, finding new questions about the world we are living in and how we are dealing with it, during our time.
Images via Cassina Projects
