Kamilla Collages are a Dreamy Sojourn

Artloft: When did you first start using collage as a medium to express yourself?

Kamilla: I discovered the magic of the collage technique when I was 19. After researching the technique for a while, I grabbed a pair of scissors, a selection of magazines, clear nail polish and brought my first analog collage to life. In 2016, I decided to share my art  with the world and created my Instagram account.

Artloft: Are there other artistic avenues that you enjoy working with?

Kamillia: During my high school days, I found joy in capturing and manipulating photos of my friends. To be honest I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved the process. Following graduation, I made the decision to move to Budapest and study photography. 

I still love to take photos outdoors, and at heartwarming family events, but I prefer to keep them private. In the future, I hope to use my own photos for my muse series and showcase more of the nature pictures I’ve captured.

Artloft: Who are some of your biggest artistic influences, both visual or otherwise?

Kamillia: My current favourite artists include Daniella Jones, Em Yates, Hiba Schahbaz, and Adrienne Raquel. Music serves as one of my biggest inspirations, and I’ve created two playlists with my favorite artists and songs to fuel my creativity while I create.

Artloft: Where do you usually get your images from? Magazines, newspapers, the internet or elsewhere?

Kamillia: My digital collages combine images from the internet with my own photos or scanned details, while my analog ones feature pictures from magazines.

Artloft: What is your process for creating, is it old school scissors and glue or more on the computer with programs like photoshop?

Kamillia: Most of my posted works are created using Photoshop, but for my personal creations, I embrace the old school scissors and glue way.

Artloft: I noticed that even in your more abstract pieces you will still often include eyes, lips or maybe a hand or leg, is that because you’d like an element of personification in all your work?

Kamillia: Definitely! Just two weeks ago, I created a piece with no body parts. I tried to add an eye, but I surprisingly liked it better without it. Perhaps it was too “peopley” outside that day. Haha.

Artloft: I really enjoy your more minimalist pieces that include just a few scarce body parts with a scenic nature backdrop. Is there a deeper meaning behind this aesthetic or it just provides a striking image?

Kamillia: It may sound cliché, but it all depends on my mood. When things around me are hectic, I create simpler pieces, and when each day starts feeling like a total repeat, I add more elements and colors.

Artloft: Your pieces which include some limited text stand out more to me because I feel there is an added element to it, both the image and the message. Is it that some pieces do not inspire you to add text, or that you’d prefer the image to stand alone as is. 

Kamillia: Every artwork is inspired by a short sentence or message that I write down in my notes or on a piece of paper, but some pieces feel better without it. In that case, I incorporate the text in the caption/title or attach it to a separate, simpler collage.

Artloft: The women in your work are often presented as larger than life, far bigger than the vast landscapes that they contrast and other times they are intertwined within it. This seems to be your most common motif. Can you elaborate a little on why this aesthetic is important to you?

Kamillia: Three years ago, my life began to change when I started therapy. Until then, I was a massive people pleaser, always prioritizing others above myself. Trying to save, love, and please everyone except me. Fear of not being enough or being too much silenced my voice and opinions. I played the good girl, sitting quietly among people whose company I didn’t really enjoy. But at 25, I shed that behavior. I left toxic and unsatisfying relationships, started discovering the real me, the passionate me, the me who doesn’t think having boundaries and opinions will make her less lovable. At least not for the right people. She’s spicy and I love her. Just like the women in my art, I take up space, and I finally don’t feel guilty about it.

Artloft: Kupindika was your last exhibition in Budapest. Was that your first exhibition or have you done some before. How did you feel having your work displayed for the public and would you consider it a success for yourself?

Kamillia: Kupindika was my first exhibition. I patiently waited for the perfect opportunity that deeply resonated with me. Everything about it—the theme, the artists, curator, and gallery—felt perfect and absolutely delicious..

Artloft: Where would you like to take your work next? Are you interested in exploring new themes and if so, what would they be?

Kamillia: In the near future, I would love to make larger analog pieces. The themes of my art are constantly influenced by my life situations, so as I grow and change I guess the themes will as well : ) 

For more of Kamilla’s work, be sure to check out her Instagram here: kamillacollages