Hi Ophelia, how are you going? What is happening where you are? Any good views or smells or sounds?
Hi! It is going very good over here— spring is springing and I am feeling renewed and energised. Great views— things are blooming! The flowers and as well as the weeds. I am listening to Ryder read our son to sleep as we speak. A full moon rising.
Just had a little look back over our early emails and realised that what I wrote is still so relevant - I find your work magical, nostalgic and calming all at once. Can you pinpoint any moments that helped you to have such an eye for these things?
My mum always took photos of us (myself and my four brothers) growing up and my dad always had a camcorder in his hand. I think I have always been drawn to documenting whether that be the everyday or a particularly special day. When I look back at our family photos now the things that I am drawn to are the environments— the rooms and objects of our family home just as much as our faces or emotions. The layers and textures that make up a life. The clothes we wear, the lamp in the corner of the room. I think I am a deeply nostalgic person so it is interesting to me that that comes through to you in my work. I think being the youngest of five children— I grew up being the watcher, or the listener. Maybe I feel like I can speak more though the things that I make rather than through stringing words together.
This genuine tenderness is quite a remarkable and admirable feature in today’s harsh world. How do you allow yourself to stay open to the honesty and vulnerability of life and infuse it within your creative outputs?
Hmm, I like that Agnes Martin quote 'with my back to the world'. There is something in that. I think choosing to live out of the city allows us extra space to go inward in periods of thinking or making before putting something into the world. I find sharing easy— I am not sure why. So once the thinking or making part is done I love letting go, letting things sail, seeing where things end up and what resonates with people.
Flicking through your instagram, I’m reminded of the more gentle and kind time it used to carve out in our lives. Have you managed to hold onto this relationship with the platform?
Wow, great question. I have loved this strange platform for a long time and remain very fond of it even though the landscape is very different now to what it was 10+ years ago. I loved it then because it was an incredible place to share work and find like minded makers and I met some of my dearest friends and collaborators and clients there. I think I will always love it for that. I still have that same relationship with it but there just seems to be so much more to comb through now. Things are alway changing but it is still the place I choose to go to share and connect with people that make things.
You and your partner, Ryder, often collaborate together. Is there a clear vision when you go into something together or does it organically evolve with the moment?
It is very organic. There is never much of a plan. There might be a loose conversation or a location or a time of day that we are trying to aim for but other than that we just get in the car and go- see what we find along the way or see what happens. I am completely inspired by sunlight- for me that is the main thing I am thinking about (when making photographs).
There are a few strong motifs that repeatedly come through in your work, such as suns and stars. Do you remember the first time you were struck by this imagery?
Ryder and I love working in series. We both do this independently within our own practices as well as together. We are both very drawn to suns etc. When I look back at my first paintings that I did as a child in kindergarten, I always painted the top corner yellow to represent the sun. In my early 20s when we were doing our Masters I painted the wall in my studio yellow so the room glowed like sunrise. Ryder ever since I met him bent branches into circles and made 'light lyrics' - works inspired the sun in pop songs. He always paints suns too. Suns with faces.
Everytime I see a man in the world holding a bunch of flowers, I now think of you. When putting together your book Men Carrying Flowers, was it hard to let go and curate it all into a physical thing? Do you still collect photos of men carrying flowers?
That is so nice. I love that other people notice this now too! I still obsessively collect and now not just my own sightings but other peoples who send me their own sightings too. Also when I see men carrying flowers in film or television now I have to screenshot those as well. Men Carrying Flowers Vol. 2 is very much in the works!
I had such a clear vision of what HB pieces I wanted to send you… light tones, mainly the cream seersucker with layering in mind. Is there a general formula you use for getting dressed each day, or is it more a feeling?
I love what you make and the pieces you chose for me were completely perfect. I love layering. My mum only wears white. Layers and layers of white. I learnt everything about dressing through her and her relationship with fabric. Why I was so drawn to your Cross Back Skirt is because you can wear it in so many ways. Layered over pants, as a dress or skirt, over your shoulders at the beach. I love seersucker too. It is so timeless and I love texture in clothing. Dressing to me is completely feeling— practicality is out the window. I dress how I feel.
I couldn’t send off questions without including this one, even though I feel a little cheeky for it… I was sooo in awe of the roll out in the lead up to Lorde’s new album. The reflective surfaces, the silver and texture, patina, etc. It seems like you have such a beautiful and genuine friendship and respect for each other and also being such a fan of your work, I love how the feeling of yours and Ryder’s personal style shines through. How has it been collaborating with Ella for so many years?
I am so in awe of my friend. The level of detail and energy that goes into an album roll out is beyond, not to mention the actual making of the music itself. I cannot believe how hard she works, she is at the helm of every single decision — it's like moving pieces glitter with the tip of a nail to form something out of dreams and into something tangible for everybody to touch — and now seeing her on tour is incredible. Anytime we get to be in the same room, whether it's for a sleepover or for work (usually these are intertwined), it is so special. I think taking a photo of someone you love a lot and care about adds a level of intimacy and magic to a photograph. Sometimes I feel like we are bursting when we are taking photos together. It is like the camera isn't even between us and that we are dancing.
I think that’s all I’ve got - is there anything else you’d like to share or something you’re excited about you've been working on?
Things are brewing which is exciting. Men Carrying Flowers Vol. 2 is on its way and another little printed something that I am cooking up with Yasmin Ganley and Kristen Lindesay too. Thank you so much for having me! What you do and how you do it — making consciously — is so important. xxx
