One day, I was browsing through Instagram, when I happened upon some *amazing* illustrations by an account I’d never seen before called ‘thckit‘. A lot of Soydivision regulars had also liked the posts, so I paused scrolling to look a bit more. The selections of aqua and red-orange combined with simple contour drawings immediately pulled me in, but on deeper viewing, some provocative themes and some kind of melancholy seemed to permeate what I was seeing. I was immediately reminded of some of the sparseness of the work of Giorgio de Chirico who once said:
“What is especially needed is great sensitivity: to look upon everything in the world as enigma….To live in the world as in an immense museum of strange things.”
With that, I now invite you to read about Cindy’s process and view some of her work.
-Morgan
MS: Tell me about your process. What is it like when you create? How is a new piece of yours born?
CP: I choose to stay away from people when I’m going to create something, but it does not necessarily mean that I need to be completely alone. It could last for hours of me just staying in my room or strolling around the town by myself. Oh, I really love to sit alone in the subway! It allows my subconscious to take over so that I can free-associate.
But when I stay in my room it doesn’t mean I just sit down at my desk. I keep moving around and do things. I talk to myself, read books or news, observe people, animals, and surroundings from the window. Anything but socializing.
And actually, I don’t really like listening to music when I’m drawing because it has a significant effect on my moods and emotions. When I’m working I need to be clear with the feelings that I’m going to put into my work. So, I’d prefer to play movies. Documentaries are the best ones.
Usually, I‘m not making any sketches. I write notes of my thoughts or any interesting moments that I find. And when I start to draw, I‘m letting my emotions do all the things. I don’t like to think much when I’m creating something. It’s okay to be all nonsense. I think we need to be in a playful state of mind if we want to create something.
MS: One thing I like about your pieces is the colors that you use. They are so pleasing and pull a viewer in so easily😍. I keep seeing soft pinks and blues. What’s up with this? Can you speak about the color selections in your pieces?
CP: Thank you, Morgan! It’s really nice of you to say that.
Honestly, I didn’t realize that I used those two colors so often, not until you asked this question. Because each color that I used represents the feeling and emotion that I saw and wanted to share. It might sound weird, but I actually see colors when I feel something, or when I listen to music. It’s probably the main reason why I don’t like listening to music when I’m drawing. And it’s hard to name those colors. The only way to explain them is with drawing. So, maybe soft pinks and blues are the most colors that I see. Isn’t it lovely? 🙂
MS: Themes. When I look at your work, I see some themes of transformation, doubt, desire and maybe even the forbidden. Some are very surreal. Can you speak about this? Are there themes you find yourself returning to?
CP: I’m glad you see those themes when you look at my work because those are exactly what I want to share.
Transformation, doubt, desire, and the forbidden are some of the situations I’m still trying to make peace with. Not only as an artist, but also as a person you always want to create something best out of yourself. We will always have the desire for something or someone that makes us feel better, but in progress comes doubt, fear of other people’s judgment, or anything that holds yourself from opening up and growing.
Drawing is absolutely my way to express myself without having to worry that I’m oversharing. It is my way to remember things, to learn about the universe and myself, and helps me appreciate everything that lives in it. Drawing is also another way to tell a story. It can give people new insights into what is happening, and when you have an insight, you have a feeling or emotion or thought that hopefully helps you to be more understanding.
I think my works are highly inspired by mysticism, self-identity, life and death, dreams, and emotional thoughts.
MS: Man, so when trying to select some of your pieces for this interview, I’m gonna have a hard time!! I like so many of them on your IG😅. If you could pick 3, which would they be and why?
CP: It’s also a hard time for me to pick only 3, because my works are my babies *laughing* But if I really have to choose, it will be these 3. These are actually one whole series called Recall. I made them in 2017, when I was just turning 23 years old. I think that was the age when I felt living in between and a bit lost, because I was no longer a teenager yet I didn’t feel old enough to call myself an adult. So, at that moment I was dealing with myself a lot. I have to say I brutally poured feelings, emotions, and thoughts into these pieces. They are probably the darkest past experiences that I can’t and will never be able to clearly share in words to anyone. And I’m so proud how hauntingly beautiful these pieces turned out.
MS: What are your next projects? Let our readers know!
CP: I have always been interested in tattoos. I think to start with stick and poke tattoos first, while looking for tattoo apprenticeships.
I actually draw a bunch of flash already, and can’t wait to be able to tattoo you 🙂
MS: Lastly, who should we interview next? What would you like to learn?
CP: I would say Arel (a photographer and video artist). Because whenever I see their piece of work I always feel like they can catch things from a different point of view. And I would love to learn about that.
More about Cindy.:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thckit
