1-Mika Taanila used silence and context to evoke a narrative. I see you using a narrative when filming your cat. Why and how does that function in your work?
“My goal was to create a feeling of familiarity, not with my cat, but with having someone or something and then losing them. I challenged myself by creating this piece only with in-camera editing.”
2.We are all making work in the context of a long and varied history of video art and media culture. I see a connection between your work and Louis Wain. Tell me more about how you see this connection or another connection to video art history/media culture?
“I’m so flattered. I fell like my work is similar to his before he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. That’s all I can say because honestly you have categorized me with a guy obsessed with cats and psychedelic art.”
3-Open question. Ask an in-depth question about the student’s work.
What is your motivation when choosing the different camera angles?
“I really wanted to portray an intimate feeling with the cat but not being too close. If it’s too close it’s hard to understand what the image is and not far away enough not to connect a emotional connection.”