Interview with Rosa Lykiardopoulos (aka Insolent Candy floss)

q) Please introduce yourself.

a)Rosa Lykiardopoulos (aka Insolent Candy floss). A little bambina from the 3rd world who dreamt of being able to live doing what she loves... Create little micro Rosita universes. Little bubbles, little lives…

q) Where do you live and work?

a)I have been in London for the past 7 years. I have a love and hate relationship with this city. It’s extremely inspiring, so much to do, so much to see,,. but the constant miserable weather forces you to stay inside and miss all that much to do, all that much to see!!!

q) How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?

a)My past and my future in a blender.

q) How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?

a)I guess it has always been there. Theatre, dance, painting, photography…I have try everything. My mum used to laugh at me because every day I had a new activity in mind. Until the day I bought a computer and that’s where I stayed.

q) What are your favorite art materials and why?

a)My Mac and the Internet. I couldn’t live without them!!!

q) What/who influences you most?

a)My work is inspired by a variety of sources. Latin America, Comic Books, Designer Toys, Egon Schiele, Sofia Loren, my brother, my beautiful man, all the pantones, all the shapes, LOVE, happiness, melancholy, every minute of my life... And music, thank god for music…

q) Describe a typical day of art making for you.

a)I work as a motion graphic designer during the day, which I consider my art as well. But illustration wise, my day start as soon as I got home, walked the dog and sit down on my computer till late hours…

q) Do you have goals, specific things you want to achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?

a)Goals??? A million!!!! I think that, as an artist, there are always dreams to become reality. And they evolve with time and the development of your career. Today I would say: to publish my own illustration book, to design stationery and to exhibit in Tokyo!

q) What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?

a)I try to follow everything my eyes are capable of. The world is FULL of talented people. And every research ends up with a pleasant surprise. My favorites at the moment are Anthony Lister, Alexandros Vasmoulakis, Oliver Jeffers, Peepshow (the collective) and Stephane Tartelin.

q) How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?

a)Where I spent most of the time is thinking about the idea… Once I have one, I would say a couple of hours per piece.

q) Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?

a)Almost all my pieces are digital files. Ask me the same question if one day I have to sell my hard drive!!!! J

q) Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?

a)Without Music, life would be a mistake…

Don’t get me started then!!! Ok, ok, I can’t help it… 1930’s 1940’s 1950’s…Jazz, Bossanova, Rumba, Chachacha, Samba, Electro Tango…The list is endless…

q) Books?

a)A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

q) What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?

a)God is a Dj.
Life is a dance floor.
Love is the Rhythm.
You are the music.

(from http://homecoming.tumblr.com)

q) What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?

a)Watching cartoons! Dancing (I love dancing…), taking photos, films…and dreaming.

q) Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?

a)I am developing my own animation series!!! It’s something I want to do since I first started, ages ago. And it’s soo refreshing!!
I am also working on a new illustration series for the web called “Tu Chiquitica”. One drawing a day. That’s the challenge. Very soon on your nearest www…

q) Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so, how? What websites, magazines, galleries do you prefer?

a)I try to see everything I can here in London, but there are soooo many things that its almost impossible to follow! Magazines? Rojo. Websites? The whole www, the best invention ever (until they find the key to teletransportation…)

q) Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.

a)If you're seeing things running through your head

Who ya gonna to call?

GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!

q) Any advice for aspiring artists?

a)Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you ‘ve never been hurt and live like it’s heaven on earth…

Follow your dreams…the rest will come.

q) Where can we see more of your work online?

a) www.insolentcandyfloss.com

www.youtube.com/rosapopulos

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Insolent-Candyfloss/56805643900?ref=mf