DOWNTIME w/ Taudalpoi

1) Location? Born and raised in Oslo, Norway. However, I’ve lived and studied in London, UK, for three years now, and am currently preparing a move to Oxford, UK. 🇳🇴 🇬🇧

2) Years collaging? This summer will mark two years as a collage artist.

3) What do you love and hate about collage? Paradoxically, that it gives both endless and limited possibilities. In one sense, there are countless ways of combining pictures into collages and by looking at some potential material I often get so many interesting ideas of how to combine them. On the other hand, I might occasionally come to the table with a distinct idea about a piece I want to create but then be frustrated by never finding that one perfect, missing piece that I have so clearly in my mind.

4) Biggest influences? Most of my influences used to come from Eugenia Loli, Trash Riot and other collage artists I surround myself with on social media. There hasn’t been a lot of, say, music having a direct, conscious influence of my work. Though, I’m transitioning – I think – to being more inspired by political events and philosophical issues. At least, that’s the direction I’d like to take.

5) Analog Vs Digital? Digital. Don’t really have a permanent place nor much space, so anything else would be difficult.

6) How do you spend your downtime? Ironically, collaging is how I spend my downtime, I think. I study, full-time, something completely unrelated (analytic-heavy philosophy) to my collaging and started collaging pretty much as a way to relax after exhausting library sessions. Though, at times, collaging appear to take a larger role in which, I guess, philosophy is how I spend my downtime.

7) Three tips for someone starting out in collage?

One: Don’t be put off if your collages don’t turn out as eye-catching as, say, Eugenia Loli’s in the beginning. Remember that, although collage is cut-and-paste based, it is a form of art and gets better over time.
Two: Produce a lot, at least in the beginning. I had a goal of producing one collage a day (at least). Although I didn’t publish all of them, it gave me training – not just in the technical side of collaging, but also the creative side.
Three: Collaborate, as much as possible! That’s a great way to learn about how other people work, which can be valuable.

8) Up and coming shows or projects we should know about? I’ve been in semi-hiatus (from collage) for a while now, to be honest, due to being a final year student and too afraid to not do well. So it’s been quiet. Lucky, I started my holiday now and look forward to getting back and possibly plan some events as well.

Links:
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/taudalpoi/
FB: facebook.com/taudalpoi
Tumblr: http://taudalpoi.tumblr.com/

Artworks (top to bottom)
'Block Head' Digital Collage
'Untitled' Digital Collage
'Boy Boy Boy' Digital Collage
'Brothers Emboss' Digital Collage
'Boyhood Emboss' Digital Collage
'EU Plus Refugees' Digital Collage
'Space Trip' Digital Collage