LILI LOPEZ An artist on a journey of self-discovery through her short film series, Undone

An artist exploring self-discovery through her film series Undone

Lili Lopez

Who are you when you are alone? What is success to you? What keeps you on the path to self-creation? Lili Lopez asks these and other searching questions to her subjects in her short film series, Undone. The visual expressionist began this ongoing personal project hoping to explore the idea that life is not about being, but about becoming. She invites inspiring individuals in New York to share their personal journeys and passions and, because it’s less about their achievements and more about the fact that we are all a work in progress, the identity of each subject is only revealed at the end. “I needed to hear other people’s stories to figure out my own issues and deal with them,” Lopez confides. “The process was therapeutic for them, but also helped me.”

The first instalments featured artists including poet Aja Monet and artist Dondre Green, and won the Best Web Series award at Bushwick Film Festival 2016. Undone has also been supported by Tribeca Film Festival and Tumblr, and the latest series gets under the skin of rapper Oddisee and photographer J. Shotti, among others.

Lopez was raised in Paris by Senegalese parents, and studied applied arts, photography and business before working in marketing for a music TV channel. She then focused on humanitarian work, which took her around the world for two years, before relocating to New York in 2014. “I didn’t know anyone, or speak English, but just decided to get there and figure it out,” Lopez recalls. “I’m not a big city girl, I like nature, so it was hard to adjust to the values and lifestyle.” But the city’s energy gave her the incentive she needed to go back to her original love of art. “I started posting my illustrations on social media and this led to commissions. That built my confidence and I found my style.” Her multimedia practice sees her working across film and photography, as well as acrylic, watercolour, pen on paper and chalkboard, through which she develops her geometric, minimalist aesthetic. “I’m inspired by Africa, by home — I draw what I see in my dreams.” Her commissions include packaging for the fashion brand Studio One Eighty Nine, illustrations for the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures and menus for the Brooklyn concept store Sincerely, Tommy. Future projects include establishing a creative consultancy agency, shooting a personal project in Senegal and Cape Verde, and directing a full-length documentary on immigration.

So when will she focus the Undone camera on herself? “I tried answering all of my own questions but I couldn’t. I’m very private and am still learning how to open up. It’s important to step out of our comfort zone and not be in fear of living authentic, vulnerable lives with one another.”