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THE PROOF is a weekly roundup showcasing local creatives. A column for creatives to share their story and work, in a unique, concise format: each creative shows 8 pictures and answers 8 questions. Past participants include Bob Kronbauer, Omer Arbel, Hannah Georgas, Carson Ting, Lizzy Karp, Andy Dixon, Graeme Berglund, Karen Duncan of VOKRA - all living in Vancouver. |
When Tara Galuska was five she wanted to be either an artist or a unicorn. Now that she is an adult she is a paper artist whose delicate and intricate miniature paper plant artworks explore interior spaces and the lives lived within them. Born in Zimbabwe in 1984, Tara spent her early childhood in Zambia, then grew up in Australia and has lived in Canada for the past 5 years. Tara attended the Design Centre Enmore where she studied illustration and design until graduation in 2009. When not creating her art Tara also works for clients including Urban Outfitters, The Land of Nod and last year she lent her paper engineering skills to a commercial for Tide. Tara would still like to be a unicorn.
THE PROOF
1. Two of my true loves are captured here tea and objects with faces on them.I firmly believe that tea tastes better in a handmade mug!
2. Daisy! She likes handbags, paper and belly rubes. She dislikes when she can see the bottom of her food bowl.
3. I’ve read this from cover to cover and now just pick it up for inspiration as needed.
4. To do lists and tiny bits of paper cover my desk! No matter how hard I try tiny bits of paper also end up spreading throughout my home.
5. Some of my plant besties! Also noticing the theme of ceramics with faces is going strong.
6. Bijou! She likes being bossy, giving love bites and looking out the window. She dislikes loud noises.
7. Some of my latest tiny paper creations!
8. My cosy home studio! The commute is great and cats are welcome. (Image credit Sarah Clement)
THE QUESTIONS
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in Zimbabwe and I am an Australian who now calls Canada home. As you can imagine my accent is pretty hard to place. When I am not working hard on creating my world in paper I am hanging out with my husband Bill and our cats and also working at THRIVE Studio. I feel like knowing that I love Arrested Development and naps also paints the picture of who I am.
2. What drew you into paper art?
I think that paper art chose me. When I was studying illustration and design there was a paper shop just around the corner and I would love going in there! I’d even start sweating when I found some especially beautiful paper and I started collecting it years before even before I had the a-ha moment that paper art was for me!
3. How would you describe your overall aesthetic?
In my work I’d probably say it’s feminine, delicate and detailed. I also love me some negative space! My aesthetic when dressing or decorating my home is the same but also a bit more of a mishmash and can lean towards toddler grandma but in what I believe to be the best way.
4. What inspires your artwork?
This year a huge area of inspiration is plants, specifically house plants and people’s relationships with their houseplants and the roles they play in their lives and their homes. There is also something magical about working on a very small scale that excites me. This morning I was watching tiny hamsters eating tiny food on youtube and there is something about that that is deeply inspiring to me and my work.
5. How did you come to be a artist?
When I was five I wanted to be either a unicorn or an artist and I don’t think that either has ever really left me. Both of these career options appeared impossible to me for many years and so instead I took a circuitous path to get here! There have been more than a few false starts along the way. Fortunately I have always kept myself open to new possibilities and finding support along the way. I have put in a lot of work to get to the point of being able to claim this title and all the wonderful and difficult things it entails. <
6. Do you have a favourite piece?
I don’t, I am usually most excited by what I am currently working on at that moment. I love all my artworks equally and I am always looking forward to what’s next, what’s next, what’s next.
7. What are 3 things you can’t live without?
Tea, cats and chocolate. I mean I could live without those things but why would I want to?
8. What are you working on right now?
Where can we find your work? I am putting the finishing touches to a selection of open edition paper plant artworks that will be available on my website soon. After that I will be diving into research for a larger body of work exploring the lives of people through their plants. You can find my work on my website and also follow along my journey on Instagram.
Tara Galuska will be presenting at the next PechaKucha Night Vol. 41 on Thursday, Feb. 9th. Join us and see what she has planned for us.
