sketchbook n° 2 April 2020
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CONTENTS
02 - 15
Jonathan Van Der Knaap
16 - 27
Christina Chu
28 - 39
Aisha Kanaya Yuson
40 - 51
Solène Ballesta & Lin Zhengqi
52 - 63
Som Kong
64 - 75
Ann Lin
76 - 87
Elena Pacienza
88 - 101
Natalia Tcherniak
102 - 113
Leandro Avanco
114 - 127
Christina Nguyen
JONATHAN VAN DER KNAAP @JVDKPHOTO
JONATHAN VDK
SERIES:
2
UNTITLED
Sight. Besides needing it to take photographs, it allows me to see my kids grow. And fight.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
Possibly both. I was somewhat creative as a child. I felt comfortable with music and making art but it wasn’t until much, much later in life that I deliberately focused on art and made myself into an artist.
What does success mean to you?
Being able to live my passion and being happy doing so.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
I’m not entirely sure that they have. Having said that, I’m sure there is some unconscious creativity that occurs based on my life experiences so far, but I don’t intentionally attempt to create images based on past events or experiences.
Why does this matter to you?
At this stage it doesn’t really. My work is not really consciously autobiographical. I’m sure this will change as I get older though.
JONATHAN VDK
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
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JONATHAN VDK
JONATHAN VDK
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JONATHAN VDK
JONATHAN VDK
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JONATHAN VDK
JONATHAN VDK
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JONATHAN VDK
JONATHAN VDK
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JONATHAN VDK
JONATHAN VDK
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JONATHAN VDK
JONATHAN VDK
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CHRISTINA CHU @MOUSSERON
SERIES:
AUTOZINE
CHRISTINA CHU
Art Direction & Design: Christina Chu | @mousseron Photography: Unsplash
16
Taste - mainly because I love exploring new flavours and foods and without taste there would be no enjoyment in it.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
I’d say a bit of both, I was born with an interest in the arts but was lucky enough to have been able to pursue it as a hobby and then again through my education. Without either of those I don’t think I’d have been able to be where I am now.
What does success mean to you?
Hrmm, I think success is when I can finally reach a point in my life where I can feel confident in myself and my work.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
Ever since I became an expat I think I’ve become a lot more open minded to the things around me, the people I’ve met along the way and the culture that I am now immersed in has definitely played a part in shaping the way I approach design now. My involvement with cosplay has also definitely pushed me to become experimental in my designs when there may not always be that opportunity in the work environment.
Why does this matter to you?
I personally have a really hard time discovering new artists and I expect I am not the only one experiencing this. Other artists bring me inspiration and motivation to keep working on my own projects.
CHRISTINA CHU
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
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CHRISTINA CHU
CHRISTINA CHU
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CHRISTINA CHU
SERIES:
Art Direction: Elleh, Christina Chu | @mousseron Design : Christina Chu | @mousseron Logo : Luis Vega Photography : Jeffrey Baum
CHRISTINA CHU
ELLEH ALBUM COVERS
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CHRISTINA CHU
CHRISTINA CHU
23
SERIES:
GHOST KING, HUA CHENG Art Direction & Design : Christina Chu | @mousseron Photography : Jennifer Li
CHRISTINA CHU
25
CHRISTINA CHU
27
AISHA KANAYA YUSON @AKY__94
SERIES:
AISHA KANAYA YUSON
MONOCHROMATIC
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Photographer: Nobumasa Tanaka | @tnknbms Hair: Erika Fung | @eri_hair Makeup: Aisha Kanaya Yuson | @aky__94 Stylist : Hitomi Matsuno | @hitomi_matsuno_ Model: Kako Takahashi
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
My favorite sense is sight. I am a very visual person and just seeing stirs up my imagination.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
I would say that all of us are born an artist but in our own unique ways.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me is to achieve a level, whether personal and/or professional that makes me feel truly satisfied.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
I feel that life experiences influence a person’s style and this is definitely true of me.
Why does this matter to you?
What I am doing makes me very happy and I feel “why stop doing something that makes you happy?” AISHA KANAYA YUSON 29
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AISHA KANAYA YUSON
Hoodie,Wrapped Shirt, Pants / MIKIO SAKABE
AISHA KANAYA YUSON 31
WILL GOODMAN Coat / Akihide Nakachi Shirt / MIKIO SAKABE 32
AISHA KANAYA YUSON
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AISHA KANAYA YUSON
Dress / Anna Choi Pants / AKIKO AOKI
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AISHA KANAYA YUSON
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AISHA KANAYA YUSON
Trench Coat / AKIKO AOKI Skirt /Seivson
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Jacket, Pants / Seivson
AISHA KANAYA YUSON 38
Dress / Anna Choi Inner Tops / AKIKO AOKI
AISHA KANAYA YUSON
39
SOLÈNE BALLESTA & LIN ZHENGQI @SOLENEBALLESTA @LINSYOUKI
SERIES:
SOLÈNE & LIN
UNTITLED
40
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
Solène: All of them. For me it’s impossible to separate, they are all linked.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
Solène: Made.
What does success mean to you?
Solène: That I would be happy and proud of myself at the end.
Lin:
Lin:
Lin:
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
Both.
It means that the absurdity of my subjective consciousness is fed back by the objective world.
Solène: In every ways. Everyday, every memory and every meeting has been as much little changes and experiences that are still forging my work. I do not recall any special or important moments, my past experiences were stepping stones that brought me here today. Lin:
I have lived in China for 26 years, and I have to say that China has a very special social environment that has affected me greatly. A lot of contradictory or fake informations are flooding every day, and questioning everything everytime has became my instinct. It sharped my perception system, and I cannot avoid thinking all the time about absurdity of the world, and this might have shaped my art.
Solène: Because art is always so deeply linked to an artist’s life and personality that it becomes essential. Lin:
SOLÈNE & LIN
Why does this matter to you?
Touch. Because I use it a lot, but rarely while thinking about it. To me it’s everytime like an undiscovered treasure.
Because something you can’t escape always becomes important. 41
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SOLÈNE & LIN
SOLÈNE & LIN
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SOLÈNE & LIN
SOLÈNE & LIN
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SOLÈNE & LIN
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SOLÈNE & LIN
ERIKA FUNG
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SOLÈNE & LIN
SOM KONG @SOMKONG
SERIES:
blosSOM
SOM KONG
FLOWERING WITHIN
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All are wonderful, when you truly feel them deeply. At the moment, if I were to choose one, ‘Touch’ has been the most dominant sense - most recently, it has felt like I’m experiencing everything for the first time.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
I don’t know, I just be.
What does success mean to you?
Being.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
In every way.
Why does this matter to you?
It doesn’t.
SOM KONG
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
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SOM KONG
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SOM KONG
SOM KONG
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SOM KONG
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SOM KONG
SOM KONG
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SOM KONG
SOM KONG
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ANN LIN
@ALPHA.NNOV
SERIES:
GLIMPSE OF LIGHT
ANN LIN
Model: Julia | @juliaboncoddo (Want Management) Photography & Set Design: Ann Lin | @alpha.nnov Stylist: Aliecia Brissett | @asseenbyleesh Hair & Makeup: Taylor Chousky | @taylorchousky Photo Assistant: Jinda Fang | @44jfang
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I’m constantly searching for inspiration from what I see.The most ordinary things inspire me.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
I’m more of a self taught person, I think the desire to create is an important natural ability, yet I’m still learning.
What does success mean to you?
To me success is to be able to do what you love with dedication and passion.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
Everything in life is art, and beauty can be seen in all things. My style is a reflection of my life experiences.
Why does this matter to you?
I want to visually translate what I see on daily basis into a series of moments. Whether it’s symmetry, colour or contrast I want people to feel they are right there at the exact moment when the photograph was taken.
ANN LIN
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
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ANN LIN
Shirt / Andrew Szewczyk Dress / Amber Groen
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ANN LIN
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ANN LIN
Top / Amber Groen Pants / Andrew Szewczyk Jewelry & Gloves / Vintage Shoes / Jimmy Choo
ANN LIN 69
ANN LIN
Dress & Skirt / Amber Groen Shoes & Jewelry / Vintage 70
ANN LIN
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ANN LIN
Dress / Andrew Coimbra Shoes & Jewelry / Vintage
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NATSHA GERSCHON
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ANN LIN
Dress / Andrew Coimbra Tights / Simons Shoes / Jimmy Choo Jewelry / Vintage 74
ANN LIN
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ELENA PACIENZA @ELENAPACIENZA
SERIES:
BEAUTY IN ISOLATION
ELENA PACIENZA
Photography: Elena Pacienza | @elenapacienza Hair & Makeup: Elena Pacienza | @elenapacienza Model: Linda Pacienza | @mysisterknows
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Definitely sight. I can be so inspired by something I see even if I’m seeing it in my minds eye, imagining it. Art is all around us you just need to see with an open heart and open mind.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
Born to be, I think. I always felt I didn’t fit into any mold or model growing up and knew I saw things in a different way. I was always colouring with my mom’s makeup when I was little and remember loving the colors and textures. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
What does success mean to you?
To me success is being able to feel joy in what you do. I create something that resonates with me that I think is beautiful and I know it’s a victory. Success is personal, and when you are confident in what you’re creating others can see your success as well. Starts with me.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
Everything I experience gets interpreted into my artistry. And as I change so does my art. Makeup styles and trends may come and go but I see my travels shape my style of hair and makeup. Seeing people and places that bring you new perspectives is such a gift and I just want to show my experiences to others through my work.
Why does this matter to you?
When my scheduled photoshoot for Karbn was cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic I was devastated and disappointed. With self isolation and social distancing in effect here in Toronto I had to either give up or get creative and come up with a way to make it happen. I hesitantly stepped up to the task with dread and fear of taking on what was outside of my comfort zone and taking on other departments. I realized it took vulnerability and courage to do the photography with none of the usual safety nets in place. Without photoshop, filters and the most importantly, an understanding of the technical expertise. I had my tools and my sister and I was inspired once again.
ELENA PACIENZA
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
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ELENA PACIENZA
ELENA PACIENZA
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ELENA PACIENZA
ELENA PACIENZA
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ELENA PACIENZA
ELENA PACIENZA
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ELENA PACIENZA
ELENA PACIENZA
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ELENA PACIENZA
ELENA PACIENZA
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK @NATTCHBOB
SERIES:
HEADLANDS
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
CYANOTYPES ON PAPER
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Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
Smell. In our continuously scent/fragrant –free artificial world, we seem to overlook smell’s incredible ability to bring back memories and travel back in time.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
Made an artist. I was born blank human.
What does success mean to you?
Success is when the result comply to or exceed the expectations. It all goes back to the intension – have you been successful in what you have set out to do? And often times when you think you have not succeeded is when you have learned the most valuable lesson.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
I often think of my artistic practice as chiselling away at a block of concrete – each life experience reveals either a new shape or a new texture that was hidden before. And though my style originated in constructivism and brutalism, it slowly becomes more refined, more organic, and more personal.
Why does this matter to you?
Art is what separates existence from life. I choose life.
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK
PSYCHOGEOGRAPHY
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
SERIES:
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
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NATALIA TCHERNIAK
NATALIA TCHERNIAK
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LEANDRO AVANCO @BEAUTYROOM6
SERIES:
ARCANA
LEANDRO AVANCO
Photography: Peter Nguyen | @peternphoto Stylist: Lea Krpan | @leeichk Hair: Fidel Hernandez | @hairbyfidel Makeup: Leandro Avanco | @beautyroom6
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Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
Mmm... hard question but I would say taste because I love to try different types of cuisines. You know?
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
I think I grew up having some kind of artistic inclination. But I truly believe that discipline and hard work can shape you to achieve what you want to become.
What does success mean to you?
Success has a different meaning to different people, right? For me, success does not mean accomplishing something, it is more about not giving up. Because if you give up you’re failing. So, do not give up. Keep working, keep looking towards the things you believe in. Be resistant. That’s what success means to me!
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
I used to work as a graphic designer back home in São Paulo, Brazil. I graduated from university in Communications. The idea of creating something with colour and shape is really attractive to me.
Why does this matter to you?
Because, I think that mix of experiences has a significant affect on what I can do with makeup. LEANDRO AVANCO 10 3
LEANDRO AVANCO
Dress / Balenciaga
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LEANDRO AVANCO
Earrings / Biko Shirt / Smythe
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LEANDRO AVANCO
LEANDRO AVANCO
Bodysuit / Capezio 10 7
LEANDRO AVANCO
Dress / Black Rotate Birger Christensen
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LEANDRO AVANCO
Silk Blouse / Reiss 10 9
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LEANDRO AVANCO
LEANDRO AVANCO
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LEANDRO AVANCO
LEANDRO AVANCO
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CHRISTINA NGUYEN @FLORA__OBSCURA
SERIES:
UNTITLTED
CHRISTINA NGUYEN
ONGOING SERIES
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Sight. It’s what helps me the most to feel connected to my surroundings.
Were you born an artist or made an artist?
Probably a bit of both. Although, I don’t really consider myself an artist but more of a creative hobbyist.
What does success mean to you?
I believe the two most important things a person can do in their life is 1, nurture, and 2, create. Hurt no one, do what you love, the rest doesn’t really matter.
How have your life experiences influenced your style?
Growing up, I’ve always felt like an outsider. I’ve really learned how to value aloneness. This practice has taught me to appreciate the things before me - to be present, without any outside noise. I spend a lot of time admiring nature, both outdoors and at home. My captures are just a testament of my respect and adoration for nature, a series of really quiet moments in time that filled me with gratitude.
Why does this matter to you?
I guess it’s just nice to feel connected to things you care about.
CHRISTINA NGUYEN
Out of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch), which one is your favourite and why?
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CHRISTINA NGUYEN
CHRISTINA NGUYEN
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CHRISTINA NGUYEN
CHRISTINA NGUYEN
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CHRISTINA NGUYEN
CHRISTINA NGUYEN
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CHRISTINA NGUYEN
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CHRISTINA NGUYEN
