Studio Garage @studiogarage.eu
Tell us about your submission…
CAMILLA: I wanted to create a poster for an open call but as I was very heartbroken at that time all I managed to produce were these crying little figures made of hama beads. They made me laugh because they looked kind and funny. But I actually never managed to finish the poster I had originally planned to work on.
CARLA: She really was a little cry baby <3 :,-(
What does the word memory mean to you?
CARLA: When I hear the word "memory", I imagine gathering special things that help bring back precious moments. To me, it's the best way to travel back in time. Connecting memories to real things reminds me that what we own is more than just stuff.
CAMILLA: To me, memories are both beautiful and painful. They are like a kaleidoscope of past events that shape and mold us. They remind us of the people who have influenced our lives and the moments that have brought us joy or sorrow. They represent our personal journey and the growth opportunities that arise from our experiences.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
CARLA: I think of the evenings when, as a child, I fell asleep in front of the TV and simply woke up in my own bed the next morning because my parents had moved me while I was asleep. That was so cosy.
CAM: Eating Okonomiyaki (japanese pancake) for the first time… yummy.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
CARL: My earliest memory of creative work was when I was 3 years old. We had a drawer at home filled with old strings and ribbons that we recycled for birthdays, and I spent hours tying knots and bows with them, without any specific purpose in mind. I think that was creative work.
CAM: I remember drawing a lot when I was small, even though I was never really good at it. I tried to replicate the art in my parents' home, experimented with different paper textures, and drew a lot of horses and cows. My parents even proudly framed all of my “art” in their dorm room, haha. It’s kind of embarrassing but it made me feel really special.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
C&C: live laugh love x3
SHEET: Meet The Contributors
Get to know the creatives featured in our latest SHEET. For issue 14 we tasked our community to submit artwork that visualises what the word memory means to them. To explore their yearn for nostalgia further and find out more about our talented contributors, we asked them about their earliest creative memory and a time they wish they could go back to. Want to get inspired? Read on to unlock some creativity.
Laura Oh @bylauraoh
Tell us about your submission…
Have you ever returned to a place that you used to love? My submission plays with the warm, but sad, nostalgic feelings you get when revisiting a location that’s filled with memories. Sometimes the only thing we have left are old photographs and I wanted to show how time and memories are precious.
What does the word memory mean to you?
A person, place or situation that is worth remembering. We often remember the bad better than the good, but that’s because your future-self is trying to avoid facing the same negative experiences.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
This isn’t a specific memory, but it’s a time that blurs so many happy memories into one. When I was younger, I used to live within a block of flats with several other families and children and we would play games outside all day, every day. It was the first time that I was exposed to so many cultures: I watched a friend practice henna, celebrated a doljanchi (a Korean baby's first birthday), and experienced different Lunar New Year traditions. What is your earliest memory of being creative? When I was a child, I drew hundreds of teeny-tiny people and animals, cut them all out and played with them like dolls!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Nobody cares as much as you think they do. Don’t take yourself too seriously and be proud of who you are.
Tell us about your submission…
Have you ever returned to a place that you used to love? My submission plays with the warm, but sad, nostalgic feelings you get when revisiting a location that’s filled with memories. Sometimes the only thing we have left are old photographs and I wanted to show how time and memories are precious.
What does the word memory mean to you?
A person, place or situation that is worth remembering. We often remember the bad better than the good, but that’s because your future-self is trying to avoid facing the same negative experiences.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
This isn’t a specific memory, but it’s a time that blurs so many happy memories into one. When I was younger, I used to live within a block of flats with several other families and children and we would play games outside all day, every day. It was the first time that I was exposed to so many cultures: I watched a friend practice henna, celebrated a doljanchi (a Korean baby's first birthday), and experienced different Lunar New Year traditions. What is your earliest memory of being creative? When I was a child, I drew hundreds of teeny-tiny people and animals, cut them all out and played with them like dolls!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Nobody cares as much as you think they do. Don’t take yourself too seriously and be proud of who you are.
Beth Shore @bethshore.pdf
Tell us about your submission…
Sadly, I lost my grandad in May last year. He was really into gardening, and he and my little sister used to have competitions to see who could grow the tallest sunflower. Flowers were his thing! During his funeral we were all given forget-me-not flower seeds to plant in his memory. As soon as I saw the theme for this issue of SHEET, my immediate thought was to create something in memory of him, and forget-me-not’s were the first thing that came to mind, alongside all the great cups of tea he used to make! What does the word memory mean to you? If I was to hear the word memory said out loud, my first thought would be to think of the happiest moment in my life. To me, memory means to remember all the good.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
February 26th 2020. Standing with my friends on Brooklyn Bridge and watching the sun go down behind the NYC skyline. I felt so incredibly grateful to witness something so stunning that I cried… I’d go back to that moment in a heartbeat!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I grew up with a mum who was an advocate for arts and crafts. I struggle to pinpoint a certain memory, but in general I remember spending my evenings after school sitting at the kitchen table painting, making jewellery and collaging!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“Dance like nobody's watching,” something I’ve heard multiple times throughout my life and a piece of advice that has really encouraged me to just be me!
Tell us about your submission…
Sadly, I lost my grandad in May last year. He was really into gardening, and he and my little sister used to have competitions to see who could grow the tallest sunflower. Flowers were his thing! During his funeral we were all given forget-me-not flower seeds to plant in his memory. As soon as I saw the theme for this issue of SHEET, my immediate thought was to create something in memory of him, and forget-me-not’s were the first thing that came to mind, alongside all the great cups of tea he used to make! What does the word memory mean to you? If I was to hear the word memory said out loud, my first thought would be to think of the happiest moment in my life. To me, memory means to remember all the good.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
February 26th 2020. Standing with my friends on Brooklyn Bridge and watching the sun go down behind the NYC skyline. I felt so incredibly grateful to witness something so stunning that I cried… I’d go back to that moment in a heartbeat!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I grew up with a mum who was an advocate for arts and crafts. I struggle to pinpoint a certain memory, but in general I remember spending my evenings after school sitting at the kitchen table painting, making jewellery and collaging!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“Dance like nobody's watching,” something I’ve heard multiple times throughout my life and a piece of advice that has really encouraged me to just be me!
Alina Chhantel @chhantel_alina
Tell us about your submission…
This submission is based on a childhood photo of my sister and me, photographed by our dad. In the late 90s, my dad bought his first colour film camera and enjoyed capturing our silly moments growing up. We tried to look serious in the photographs but we ended up giggling and being silly instead. This piece is a snapshot of our childhood and the fun we had together as siblings.
What does the word memory mean to you?
To me, memory is part of our past that makes us who we are. It can be a happy or sad remembrance that reminds us of the life we have lived through. My life has been made special by the people I’ve met and places I’ve visited for which I’m always grateful.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
I often think about the times my sister and I went cycling near the rice fields, chasing dragonflies on sunny holidays. Those carefree moments hold a special place in my heart.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
As a child, I wasn’t that interested in drawing or painting. It was something I did when I was bored. But I still remember when I got a huge box of crayons with eighty different colours. I’d never seen so many colours before and every time I made a drawing I made sure I used every shade in my drawings. It sparked my love for art and creativity.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Someone once told me, "You're not that talented." It sounded harsh to me at first. But later on, it made me realise that even though I don't have a particular talent, I loved what I was doing with art. I didn’t have to carry the burden of being called ‘talented’ and could keep drawing, day-to-day, enjoying myself.
Tell us about your submission…
This submission is based on a childhood photo of my sister and me, photographed by our dad. In the late 90s, my dad bought his first colour film camera and enjoyed capturing our silly moments growing up. We tried to look serious in the photographs but we ended up giggling and being silly instead. This piece is a snapshot of our childhood and the fun we had together as siblings.
What does the word memory mean to you?
To me, memory is part of our past that makes us who we are. It can be a happy or sad remembrance that reminds us of the life we have lived through. My life has been made special by the people I’ve met and places I’ve visited for which I’m always grateful.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
I often think about the times my sister and I went cycling near the rice fields, chasing dragonflies on sunny holidays. Those carefree moments hold a special place in my heart.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
As a child, I wasn’t that interested in drawing or painting. It was something I did when I was bored. But I still remember when I got a huge box of crayons with eighty different colours. I’d never seen so many colours before and every time I made a drawing I made sure I used every shade in my drawings. It sparked my love for art and creativity.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Someone once told me, "You're not that talented." It sounded harsh to me at first. But later on, it made me realise that even though I don't have a particular talent, I loved what I was doing with art. I didn’t have to carry the burden of being called ‘talented’ and could keep drawing, day-to-day, enjoying myself.
Chantai Day @chantaiday
Tell us about your submission…
My submission is a bittersweet depiction of time, memories, love, and life – a nod to what we leave behind, and what we remember about the life we have lived with our loved ones. I always think about how transient life is, and wondering what I will be thinking when I am old. Will it go by quickly? What will my legacy be? What will my fondest memories be? Will I wish I’d have listened to those wise old words that “life is short”? My poem is written from the perspective of what it might be like to age; to reflect on your life stories and what you would do to relive them.
What does the word memory mean to you?
The word ‘memory’ gives me a sense of nostalgia, which is quite bittersweet. It makes me think of all the core moments we have had in life. We cherish those memories, they make us happy, but sometimes they make us miss people or experiences or places.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Any time I visited my grandparents as a child!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
As a kid, I used to go around my house collecting cardboard and scraps of paper. I would spend hours in my room building mini houses and any sort of DIY project I could think of.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
That everyone is replaceable in the workplace, but not at home – never prioritise your job over yourself or your needs, because if you don’t know one else will.
Tell us about your submission…
My submission is a bittersweet depiction of time, memories, love, and life – a nod to what we leave behind, and what we remember about the life we have lived with our loved ones. I always think about how transient life is, and wondering what I will be thinking when I am old. Will it go by quickly? What will my legacy be? What will my fondest memories be? Will I wish I’d have listened to those wise old words that “life is short”? My poem is written from the perspective of what it might be like to age; to reflect on your life stories and what you would do to relive them.
What does the word memory mean to you?
The word ‘memory’ gives me a sense of nostalgia, which is quite bittersweet. It makes me think of all the core moments we have had in life. We cherish those memories, they make us happy, but sometimes they make us miss people or experiences or places.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Any time I visited my grandparents as a child!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
As a kid, I used to go around my house collecting cardboard and scraps of paper. I would spend hours in my room building mini houses and any sort of DIY project I could think of.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
That everyone is replaceable in the workplace, but not at home – never prioritise your job over yourself or your needs, because if you don’t know one else will.
Cathrine Buus Petersen @cathrinebuus
Tell us about your submission…
The piece reflects the reaction we have on memories. It makes us think, it makes our brains light up and feelings float around in our bodies. It can change our aura and energies. A memory isn’t just a feeling, a smell or sound it’s everything within us, around us and who we become.
What does the word memory mean to you?
To me the word memory is a very powerful word. It can hold a lot of emotions and feelings depending on the topic, the day or the time. Our memories define us, good or bad, if we like it or not.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
That's a good question. I’m not sure I can pick a specific memory I wish I could go back to. When I think of different memories it brings a rollercoaster of feelings, emotions and stories.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I’m not sure what my earliest memory of being creative is. I come from a quite creative home which I realised later on in my older years. I remember the grownups in my kindergarten commenting on my very colorful nails and choice of clothes and later on (by order) drawing pokemon for the boys in my class at school.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
People are like batteries. You will meet people where you recharge each other, while others will just take all your energy and leave. Surround yourself with people who bring you energy.
Tell us about your submission…
The piece reflects the reaction we have on memories. It makes us think, it makes our brains light up and feelings float around in our bodies. It can change our aura and energies. A memory isn’t just a feeling, a smell or sound it’s everything within us, around us and who we become.
What does the word memory mean to you?
To me the word memory is a very powerful word. It can hold a lot of emotions and feelings depending on the topic, the day or the time. Our memories define us, good or bad, if we like it or not.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
That's a good question. I’m not sure I can pick a specific memory I wish I could go back to. When I think of different memories it brings a rollercoaster of feelings, emotions and stories.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I’m not sure what my earliest memory of being creative is. I come from a quite creative home which I realised later on in my older years. I remember the grownups in my kindergarten commenting on my very colorful nails and choice of clothes and later on (by order) drawing pokemon for the boys in my class at school.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
People are like batteries. You will meet people where you recharge each other, while others will just take all your energy and leave. Surround yourself with people who bring you energy.
Sanjita Gurung @Yumekounart
Tell us about your submission…
This is a drawing of my grandparents' home in Kosi, Nepal, the house that I was born in. The whole house is made out of wood and thatched hay surrounded by miles of green rice fields. This is the balcony where my auntie was drying her clothes, it’s a drawing from a photo I took when I went 11 years later. Seeing it as a child and then going back as an adult felt surreal to me, I had more of an appreciation for the roots that I come from and also for the sacrifice my parents have made for me and my sisters.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory to me is like a gentle scent of sweet flowers or a track of music that reminds you of long summer days. It’s always a beautiful moment, laughter of being silly with my sisters or even the hardships I have faced and conquered. They are of my loved ones and how each person I have met has taught me something new. The countries that I have lived in, that have helped me grow and create my values. Memories are like a warm coffee at your favorite cafe with soft bossa-nova music.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
When I just finished my university, I decided to work abroad in South Korea as an English teacher for a year. That year was filled with so many firsts for me, my first time living abroad alone, meeting people from all over the world, even trying lots of new food like Beondegi which is a silkworm pupae.
I met some of the best people there and are still friends with them today. I went to my friend's wedding last year in America who I met there. I realised that I am a lot stronger than I think I am and that humans all have similar things they go through, our joys and pains are so similar no matter what country you are from. I wish I could go back to that time because it truly was an adventure for me.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest creative memory is when I was in primary school, we had a task to make a hat that resembled insects out of recycled materials. I remember that I found it quite fun and easy to create solutions for this task. I used the plastic bottles to recreate wings of a lady bird to represent the shiny backs they have. The teacher asked us what grade we think we deserved and I wrote A* and explained why. To my surprise I was awarded this grade and it made me realise that I have some talent when using materials or thinking creatively.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I got is from one of my tutors for my MA who told me that art ultimately is your story, your voice. Even if it may look like something similar to others it would never have the same story as you, so first know your story and no one can take that power away from you. I truly feel that I am understanding my own story, the power and my ability as an artist and I think it's important for me to share it.
Tell us about your submission…
This is a drawing of my grandparents' home in Kosi, Nepal, the house that I was born in. The whole house is made out of wood and thatched hay surrounded by miles of green rice fields. This is the balcony where my auntie was drying her clothes, it’s a drawing from a photo I took when I went 11 years later. Seeing it as a child and then going back as an adult felt surreal to me, I had more of an appreciation for the roots that I come from and also for the sacrifice my parents have made for me and my sisters.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory to me is like a gentle scent of sweet flowers or a track of music that reminds you of long summer days. It’s always a beautiful moment, laughter of being silly with my sisters or even the hardships I have faced and conquered. They are of my loved ones and how each person I have met has taught me something new. The countries that I have lived in, that have helped me grow and create my values. Memories are like a warm coffee at your favorite cafe with soft bossa-nova music.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
When I just finished my university, I decided to work abroad in South Korea as an English teacher for a year. That year was filled with so many firsts for me, my first time living abroad alone, meeting people from all over the world, even trying lots of new food like Beondegi which is a silkworm pupae.
I met some of the best people there and are still friends with them today. I went to my friend's wedding last year in America who I met there. I realised that I am a lot stronger than I think I am and that humans all have similar things they go through, our joys and pains are so similar no matter what country you are from. I wish I could go back to that time because it truly was an adventure for me.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest creative memory is when I was in primary school, we had a task to make a hat that resembled insects out of recycled materials. I remember that I found it quite fun and easy to create solutions for this task. I used the plastic bottles to recreate wings of a lady bird to represent the shiny backs they have. The teacher asked us what grade we think we deserved and I wrote A* and explained why. To my surprise I was awarded this grade and it made me realise that I have some talent when using materials or thinking creatively.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I got is from one of my tutors for my MA who told me that art ultimately is your story, your voice. Even if it may look like something similar to others it would never have the same story as you, so first know your story and no one can take that power away from you. I truly feel that I am understanding my own story, the power and my ability as an artist and I think it's important for me to share it.
Useless Treasures @useless_treasures
Tell us about your submission…
My Submission is called "It's Fine." I drew a 90s edition Troll doll, which I loved as a kid. The 90s childhood naivety merged into current reality as a tribute to the "it’s fine meme," where everything around us feels on fire.
What does the word memory mean to you?
The word memory was a minefield for me. I spent years navigating between memories, trying to avoid the painful ones. Today, I understand that my memories are my building blocks. Now, I try my best to create good memories for the years to come.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
A memory I wish I could go back to is my first time at a live concert. I think I was 15 or 16, hitchhiking with my best friend. The massive crowd, energy, and feeling of independence and freedom was so raw and powerful.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of being creative is around age five. There was an astronomical event in which the moon turned red. I wanted to remember it, so I painted it. It was basically a red circle with black around it, but it was also an adorable early attempt at realism art.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Turn that fear into excitement.
Tell us about your submission…
My Submission is called "It's Fine." I drew a 90s edition Troll doll, which I loved as a kid. The 90s childhood naivety merged into current reality as a tribute to the "it’s fine meme," where everything around us feels on fire.
What does the word memory mean to you?
The word memory was a minefield for me. I spent years navigating between memories, trying to avoid the painful ones. Today, I understand that my memories are my building blocks. Now, I try my best to create good memories for the years to come.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
A memory I wish I could go back to is my first time at a live concert. I think I was 15 or 16, hitchhiking with my best friend. The massive crowd, energy, and feeling of independence and freedom was so raw and powerful.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of being creative is around age five. There was an astronomical event in which the moon turned red. I wanted to remember it, so I painted it. It was basically a red circle with black around it, but it was also an adorable early attempt at realism art.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Turn that fear into excitement.
Vivien Baader @analoge.viv
Tell us about your submission…
My picture shows my grandma, and I shot it on film. She was born in Sicily in 1940 and came to Germany in her mid-20s. I grew up there in a house with her and my mother. She was like my mom 2.0 to me. Now she suffers from dementia and nothing is like it used to be. She was a hard-working and very independent woman, whereas now she is dependent on my mother's help. I took this picture a year ago. Since then, her condition has deteriorated a lot and she is losing more and more of her memory. I try to capture as many moments with her as possible to keep her in our memory forever.
What does the word memory mean to you?
I have many bad memories of the past. That's why I consciously try to "overwrite" them with new ones. In other words, I actively try to create memories that I like to remember. As I generally overthink a lot and don't want to make life too difficult for myself, I try to avoid negative situations and do things that I will remember fondly later on. Also, since my grandma has been ill and I’ve realised that even memories are fleeting, everything has taken on a different meaning for me. She really doesn't remember much. And the stories she does remember are either very positive or very negative. In other words, serious events. Imagine you can only remember 5 stories from your past. You would want them to be positive and beautiful, wouldn't you?
A memory you wish you could go back to?
I could name many, like getting my first dog or graduating. But for me it’s not a specific memory. Instead I would love to see myself as a child again and feel that joy like I did back then. When you grow up, you don't feel your emotions like you used to. Bad things felt like the end of the world, whereas now you know it's not. And good things made you feel so happy and invincible. I would love to feel that unconditional joy again that I had as a child.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I was allowed to use my parents' cameras very early on and at some point I also inherited my uncle's old camera. My uncle and dad both enjoyed photography as well. When I was really young, I would often disappear into my room for hours and take pictures of myself or random stuff. I put on strange outfits, dressed up and put on make-up, tried out lots of things. Afterwards, I spent just as long, if not longer, editing these pictures. I had so much fun doing that. I always wished I could draw, paint or sing, but that was never my thing. It was always photography.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
My mom always says "the main thing is that you're happy". For my family, it's important that I'm happy - not that my goal is to please others. This has always given me the freedom to be creative.
Tell us about your submission…
My picture shows my grandma, and I shot it on film. She was born in Sicily in 1940 and came to Germany in her mid-20s. I grew up there in a house with her and my mother. She was like my mom 2.0 to me. Now she suffers from dementia and nothing is like it used to be. She was a hard-working and very independent woman, whereas now she is dependent on my mother's help. I took this picture a year ago. Since then, her condition has deteriorated a lot and she is losing more and more of her memory. I try to capture as many moments with her as possible to keep her in our memory forever.
What does the word memory mean to you?
I have many bad memories of the past. That's why I consciously try to "overwrite" them with new ones. In other words, I actively try to create memories that I like to remember. As I generally overthink a lot and don't want to make life too difficult for myself, I try to avoid negative situations and do things that I will remember fondly later on. Also, since my grandma has been ill and I’ve realised that even memories are fleeting, everything has taken on a different meaning for me. She really doesn't remember much. And the stories she does remember are either very positive or very negative. In other words, serious events. Imagine you can only remember 5 stories from your past. You would want them to be positive and beautiful, wouldn't you?
A memory you wish you could go back to?
I could name many, like getting my first dog or graduating. But for me it’s not a specific memory. Instead I would love to see myself as a child again and feel that joy like I did back then. When you grow up, you don't feel your emotions like you used to. Bad things felt like the end of the world, whereas now you know it's not. And good things made you feel so happy and invincible. I would love to feel that unconditional joy again that I had as a child.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I was allowed to use my parents' cameras very early on and at some point I also inherited my uncle's old camera. My uncle and dad both enjoyed photography as well. When I was really young, I would often disappear into my room for hours and take pictures of myself or random stuff. I put on strange outfits, dressed up and put on make-up, tried out lots of things. Afterwards, I spent just as long, if not longer, editing these pictures. I had so much fun doing that. I always wished I could draw, paint or sing, but that was never my thing. It was always photography.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
My mom always says "the main thing is that you're happy". For my family, it's important that I'm happy - not that my goal is to please others. This has always given me the freedom to be creative.
Killyan Challah @boudran_
Tell us about your submission… I prefer for the person looking at my art to let my work speak for them, I like them to use their own vision, sensibility and story. Therefore I wouldn’t want to influence them by explaining what it means to me. So I am just going to let you know a bit more about the technicalities behind them. Those 4 pictures were taken by myself at different times of my life on my dad's old traditional film camera. They have been cut, stitched together and finally scanned to 'reconstruct them'. Every film used was a different one therefore they do not have the same shades of grey or even the same texture. The first one on the top left is blurry, I can't remember the exact moment I took it but it was a picture of a decorated palm tree in the city where I was born. The second one was taken in Paris (15eme arrondissement), a picture of a railway where you can almost see the Eiffel Tower. The third one is of a Ferris wheel in Nice, I've never been on it but every summer it rises on the main square. Finally, the last one is a place that is very close to my heart; a little house in the mountains where I spent a lot of my childhood. I am currently enjoying it again after months of renovations.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory is a very important tool for humans. It allows us to move forward, build our resilience and it helps us to avoid making the same mistakes. It helps us to keep in mind where we come from and accept who we are. In the process of creativity, memory is just as important as we are using old traditional techniques and making them our own by adding our sensibility, story, and memory. We can use it to feel better, to smile, to cry, to laugh, to love. It's important to use it to move forward in a positive way.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
There are too many, I wouldn't be able to list them all. And they are all as important to me. What is your earliest memory of being creative? I love skiing, I started when I was a toddler and I still enjoy it. I remember watching over and over again the same freestyle DVD (it was the only one I had). I then started to think about where I could put cameras when we ski. I started to analyse the rhythm of the video as well as the colours. I then bought a cheap camera and started to take pictures and videos of anything, from skateboarding to skiing and even music. This started my journey.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
I had a lot of great advice in my life. Mainly from my friends and family. I wouldn't be able to list a specific one. I think there are more memories that I have with them. I use these to stay positive and be a better person.
Tell us about your submission… I prefer for the person looking at my art to let my work speak for them, I like them to use their own vision, sensibility and story. Therefore I wouldn’t want to influence them by explaining what it means to me. So I am just going to let you know a bit more about the technicalities behind them. Those 4 pictures were taken by myself at different times of my life on my dad's old traditional film camera. They have been cut, stitched together and finally scanned to 'reconstruct them'. Every film used was a different one therefore they do not have the same shades of grey or even the same texture. The first one on the top left is blurry, I can't remember the exact moment I took it but it was a picture of a decorated palm tree in the city where I was born. The second one was taken in Paris (15eme arrondissement), a picture of a railway where you can almost see the Eiffel Tower. The third one is of a Ferris wheel in Nice, I've never been on it but every summer it rises on the main square. Finally, the last one is a place that is very close to my heart; a little house in the mountains where I spent a lot of my childhood. I am currently enjoying it again after months of renovations.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory is a very important tool for humans. It allows us to move forward, build our resilience and it helps us to avoid making the same mistakes. It helps us to keep in mind where we come from and accept who we are. In the process of creativity, memory is just as important as we are using old traditional techniques and making them our own by adding our sensibility, story, and memory. We can use it to feel better, to smile, to cry, to laugh, to love. It's important to use it to move forward in a positive way.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
There are too many, I wouldn't be able to list them all. And they are all as important to me. What is your earliest memory of being creative? I love skiing, I started when I was a toddler and I still enjoy it. I remember watching over and over again the same freestyle DVD (it was the only one I had). I then started to think about where I could put cameras when we ski. I started to analyse the rhythm of the video as well as the colours. I then bought a cheap camera and started to take pictures and videos of anything, from skateboarding to skiing and even music. This started my journey.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
I had a lot of great advice in my life. Mainly from my friends and family. I wouldn't be able to list a specific one. I think there are more memories that I have with them. I use these to stay positive and be a better person.
Gregor Bauernfeind @kanal100_
Tell us about your submission…
I looked through my film photos and selected some with a connection to memory that had different motivations, sometimes it was about a personal memory, then again it was the protagonists in the pictures who make memories. In this case the photo is of two teenage girls visiting the famous cherry blossom in Bonn, Germany. They have presumably dressed especially for the occasion, wearing pink and taking a selfie in memory of their visit. I photographed the blossoms that day, I'm not usually a "street photographer" who takes pictures of people, but I found the motif and colours very nice.
What does the word memory mean to you?
I of course have many good memories, but thinking about the word, it has more of a melancholy, nostalgic component. I associate it with transience, farewell.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I was never talented when it came to painting or singing. I vaguely remember a homemade newspaper that I doodled at the age of 5 after my mother gave me a blank, thin newsprint that was about car accidents and football. That must be one of the earlier creative memories.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given? In the Andromeda Nebula, no one cares.
Tell us about your submission…
I looked through my film photos and selected some with a connection to memory that had different motivations, sometimes it was about a personal memory, then again it was the protagonists in the pictures who make memories. In this case the photo is of two teenage girls visiting the famous cherry blossom in Bonn, Germany. They have presumably dressed especially for the occasion, wearing pink and taking a selfie in memory of their visit. I photographed the blossoms that day, I'm not usually a "street photographer" who takes pictures of people, but I found the motif and colours very nice.
What does the word memory mean to you?
I of course have many good memories, but thinking about the word, it has more of a melancholy, nostalgic component. I associate it with transience, farewell.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I was never talented when it came to painting or singing. I vaguely remember a homemade newspaper that I doodled at the age of 5 after my mother gave me a blank, thin newsprint that was about car accidents and football. That must be one of the earlier creative memories.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given? In the Andromeda Nebula, no one cares.
Laura Braithwaite @seekhappydays
Tell us about your submission…
When faced with the prompt ‘memory’, my first instinct was to create something involving my closest and dearest people, as those are the memories that mean the most to me. Each piece features one of these people – my beautiful sister, my best friend of over a decade, my loving partner and myself! I used a combination of film photography, taken on trips away & days out over the past year or two, childish sketches and family photographs. I have a fascination with nostalgia and the sadness that comes with forgetting childhood memories, and wanted to reflect that feeling within my submission.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory is the people we used to be, the little girl I once was, the events and moments that changed us, my late Nan, my childhood dog, nights out, heartbreak, echoing regrets of saying the wrong thing, cuddling my mum.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Recently my family recovered our home videos. They included so many beautiful moments - my sister’s birth, my parents’ wedding, nursery performances and trips to the zoo. The one memory I would go back to was one we discovered on these tapes: the evening of my 3rd birthday, being visited by family members that are no longer with us. It would be so beautiful to be loved by them again and relive the outrageous joy I had when opening a present with a pink skirt in it.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of being creative was summertime as a kid, drawing on the street and down our garden path with chalk, feeling very sad that it was going to wash away soon!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
‘Minute by minute’ – no matter how anxious, stressed, or overwhelming life can be, you can only really control what’s happening in the next minute. When you take life in little sections, it doesn’t seem as uncontrollable.
Tell us about your submission…
When faced with the prompt ‘memory’, my first instinct was to create something involving my closest and dearest people, as those are the memories that mean the most to me. Each piece features one of these people – my beautiful sister, my best friend of over a decade, my loving partner and myself! I used a combination of film photography, taken on trips away & days out over the past year or two, childish sketches and family photographs. I have a fascination with nostalgia and the sadness that comes with forgetting childhood memories, and wanted to reflect that feeling within my submission.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory is the people we used to be, the little girl I once was, the events and moments that changed us, my late Nan, my childhood dog, nights out, heartbreak, echoing regrets of saying the wrong thing, cuddling my mum.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Recently my family recovered our home videos. They included so many beautiful moments - my sister’s birth, my parents’ wedding, nursery performances and trips to the zoo. The one memory I would go back to was one we discovered on these tapes: the evening of my 3rd birthday, being visited by family members that are no longer with us. It would be so beautiful to be loved by them again and relive the outrageous joy I had when opening a present with a pink skirt in it.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of being creative was summertime as a kid, drawing on the street and down our garden path with chalk, feeling very sad that it was going to wash away soon!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
‘Minute by minute’ – no matter how anxious, stressed, or overwhelming life can be, you can only really control what’s happening in the next minute. When you take life in little sections, it doesn’t seem as uncontrollable.
Kandra Obeng @kandipoetry
Tell us about your submission…
I wrote my poem ‘Childhood’ during my GCSEs, when I was about to leave secondary school. What sparked the poem in my mind was the thought of leaving secondary school, all the fun and all my friends, to join a new area of my life where I have to be mature and enter adulthood.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory is something that is a part of you, it sticks on to you and influences your thoughts and your behaviour.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
What inspired this poem was my personal childhood experiences. As a child I used to go out all the time and play with the kids from around the area. That is just one memory, I wish I could go back to because I had so much fun. I was so free back then.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of creativity is when I used to watch YouTube channels to learn how to draw cartoons. I had a whole book of cartoon drawings that I would bring into primary school and I'd act like I didn't just watch a whole tutorial to draw this one cartoon.
My earliest memory of poetry is always in year nine, during lockdown. During the lockdown, I decided to write a poem out of boredom. This was the second lockdown. I really enjoyed writing it so I decided to write more and started exploring. I created an Instagram account and started sharing my poems on my social media. I would post it on my story and get people's opinions on it.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
It’s better to try and fail than to not try at all and get no results. If you try and fail then at least you know what to do the next time.
Tell us about your submission…
I wrote my poem ‘Childhood’ during my GCSEs, when I was about to leave secondary school. What sparked the poem in my mind was the thought of leaving secondary school, all the fun and all my friends, to join a new area of my life where I have to be mature and enter adulthood.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Memory is something that is a part of you, it sticks on to you and influences your thoughts and your behaviour.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
What inspired this poem was my personal childhood experiences. As a child I used to go out all the time and play with the kids from around the area. That is just one memory, I wish I could go back to because I had so much fun. I was so free back then.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of creativity is when I used to watch YouTube channels to learn how to draw cartoons. I had a whole book of cartoon drawings that I would bring into primary school and I'd act like I didn't just watch a whole tutorial to draw this one cartoon.
My earliest memory of poetry is always in year nine, during lockdown. During the lockdown, I decided to write a poem out of boredom. This was the second lockdown. I really enjoyed writing it so I decided to write more and started exploring. I created an Instagram account and started sharing my poems on my social media. I would post it on my story and get people's opinions on it.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
It’s better to try and fail than to not try at all and get no results. If you try and fail then at least you know what to do the next time.
HEOVERS @heovers
Tell us about your submission…
This submission features Wobbly Man and his friend Elephant playing cards after a long day spent in the summer sun. Much of my illustration practice revolves around these two characters, with this oil painting being one of the first images I created of the two together. I started building the “Wobbly World” a few years ago and over time it’s spiralled into something bigger - with episodes, backstories, plots and other characters being introduced. This painting will always be one of my favourites - I actually created it during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns when I was nostalgic for happier times. I believe I was painting where I wanted to be, both mentally and physically.
What does the word memory mean to you?
For me this word encompasses the real pithy things of life; objects, people or experiences from my past that have unexplainable prominence in my mind. Memories can be happy or tinged with a quiet sadness - regardless of which end on the emotional spectrum it may lean towards they always remind me of being human. Much of my work revolves around trying to capture these moments and reflect on how they make me feel. I often use naive characters in a realistic setting to depict this, using the contrast to emphasise the narrative.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
There’s honestly too many to choose from!! Net fishing with my friend over the summer holidays, watching a cataclysmic thunderstorm from a hotel window at night, seeing Bruce Springsteen live, a trip to Croatia with my university mates, summer in Wimborne, my first date with my boyfriend, BBQs in Edinburgh, illustrating in my university studios… the list goes on and on and on haha!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I remember when I was around six or seven years old I got obsessed with manga and anime. My earliest memory of being creative was attempting to draw these manga characters. They had heads the shape of a Rubik's Cube, eyes completely lopsided and I think I forgot to give a lot of them noses. Looking back they were a good attempt at human anatomy for a young kid - I’m just thankful my friends, family and teachers encouraged me to carry on developing my skills.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“You have to say goodbye in order to say hello again." I’m not sure it’s classed as advice, however I’ve found it a great comfort to me and I think about it often.
Tell us about your submission…
This submission features Wobbly Man and his friend Elephant playing cards after a long day spent in the summer sun. Much of my illustration practice revolves around these two characters, with this oil painting being one of the first images I created of the two together. I started building the “Wobbly World” a few years ago and over time it’s spiralled into something bigger - with episodes, backstories, plots and other characters being introduced. This painting will always be one of my favourites - I actually created it during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns when I was nostalgic for happier times. I believe I was painting where I wanted to be, both mentally and physically.
What does the word memory mean to you?
For me this word encompasses the real pithy things of life; objects, people or experiences from my past that have unexplainable prominence in my mind. Memories can be happy or tinged with a quiet sadness - regardless of which end on the emotional spectrum it may lean towards they always remind me of being human. Much of my work revolves around trying to capture these moments and reflect on how they make me feel. I often use naive characters in a realistic setting to depict this, using the contrast to emphasise the narrative.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
There’s honestly too many to choose from!! Net fishing with my friend over the summer holidays, watching a cataclysmic thunderstorm from a hotel window at night, seeing Bruce Springsteen live, a trip to Croatia with my university mates, summer in Wimborne, my first date with my boyfriend, BBQs in Edinburgh, illustrating in my university studios… the list goes on and on and on haha!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I remember when I was around six or seven years old I got obsessed with manga and anime. My earliest memory of being creative was attempting to draw these manga characters. They had heads the shape of a Rubik's Cube, eyes completely lopsided and I think I forgot to give a lot of them noses. Looking back they were a good attempt at human anatomy for a young kid - I’m just thankful my friends, family and teachers encouraged me to carry on developing my skills.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
“You have to say goodbye in order to say hello again." I’m not sure it’s classed as advice, however I’ve found it a great comfort to me and I think about it often.
Beatriz Rentes @beatrizrentes
Tell us about your submission… Throughout my bachelor's and now master's, I have been studying culture within art and design, and my research has been expressed in a variety of different ways. People described culture as tacit knowledge and your own personal language. The way you view the world with this definition is always linked to memories. A project I created during this process was my children's book about mental health. The characters were based on me and my friends and I illustrated our characters in hundreds of ways. This is where ‘Us Together’ was created. I've known my best friend, Erique Brown, for 17 years as we first met in reception and have been in each other's lives ever since. ‘Us Together’ was a reflection of our friendship and our care and protection of one another from a young age. It was an art piece that led me to finalising what my characters were going to look like, but it was always my favourite piece and it has held a deep sense of nostalgia.
What does the word memory mean to you?
To me, the word memory evokes the deep sense of connection and shared experiences that shape one’s identity. These can be negative or positive but all these experiences are what makes you, you so they are all important in different ways.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
I wish I could go back to the first year of uni. It was the perfect balance of freedom and being able to do whatever you want but also not having to make any real adult decisions. Being able to take risks and experiment whether that was within my practice as a graphic designer or just as a creative. Not having the feeling that everything I do has to have a deep sense of meaning and purpose that will affect the rest of my life was great. I think everyone just wants to be a kid again, even just for a day.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of being creative was painting with my mother. She has always been a creative, vibrant and strong hippy woman. She always expressed herself through her environment by the way she dressed or the art she created. She is my role model and she always pushed me to be creative and express myself however I saw fit.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I have received and shared is ‘kindness is a virtue’. It isn’t anything new or unheard of but it is often underutilised despite its familiarity. I think sharing just a little bit of kindness and warmth can initiate a ripple effect that can create great change.
Tell us about your submission… Throughout my bachelor's and now master's, I have been studying culture within art and design, and my research has been expressed in a variety of different ways. People described culture as tacit knowledge and your own personal language. The way you view the world with this definition is always linked to memories. A project I created during this process was my children's book about mental health. The characters were based on me and my friends and I illustrated our characters in hundreds of ways. This is where ‘Us Together’ was created. I've known my best friend, Erique Brown, for 17 years as we first met in reception and have been in each other's lives ever since. ‘Us Together’ was a reflection of our friendship and our care and protection of one another from a young age. It was an art piece that led me to finalising what my characters were going to look like, but it was always my favourite piece and it has held a deep sense of nostalgia.
What does the word memory mean to you?
To me, the word memory evokes the deep sense of connection and shared experiences that shape one’s identity. These can be negative or positive but all these experiences are what makes you, you so they are all important in different ways.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
I wish I could go back to the first year of uni. It was the perfect balance of freedom and being able to do whatever you want but also not having to make any real adult decisions. Being able to take risks and experiment whether that was within my practice as a graphic designer or just as a creative. Not having the feeling that everything I do has to have a deep sense of meaning and purpose that will affect the rest of my life was great. I think everyone just wants to be a kid again, even just for a day.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memory of being creative was painting with my mother. She has always been a creative, vibrant and strong hippy woman. She always expressed herself through her environment by the way she dressed or the art she created. She is my role model and she always pushed me to be creative and express myself however I saw fit.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice I have received and shared is ‘kindness is a virtue’. It isn’t anything new or unheard of but it is often underutilised despite its familiarity. I think sharing just a little bit of kindness and warmth can initiate a ripple effect that can create great change.
Jule Behrenswerth @jul_ischka
Tell us about your submission…
Hi, I'm Jule and I'm an artist from Cologne. I'm 24 years old and I've been painting since I was 15, mainly motives related to people. Most of the time I work with oil on canvas like in the motive shown here, which is the descent of a girl into the water. The inspiration for the painting came from a day at the lake last summer. A painting like this is the epitome of a summer memory for me. When I started the painting in winter, winter seemed like a never-ending time of cold and darkness, as it does every year. Summer is a distant memory, even though it was there not so long ago. It is impossible to recall the richness of possibilities and we forget the warmth of summer feelings in winter, thinking it is our only reality.
The picture has a size of 200cmx170cm. I deliberately chose a format that gives you the feeling of being a part of the scenario. If you let yourself the warmth can draw you in and summer will catch up with you. When I started the painting in winter, I kept imagining the summer and the closer I got to the finished result, the more I realised that the picture was no longer a memory but rather a reality.
What does the word memory mean to you?
For me, the word memory means being a person who lives and feels. Memory is what remains and shapes us, also making us who we are or want to be. Memories do not have to be real, they are a matter of interpretation and individuality. They are emotionally influenced if not manipulated which is what makes memories so magical. Memories can be shared and yet they always remain your own.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
There is no specific memory that I would like to return to. Rather, there are feelings that I have felt intensely at certain times of my life that I would like to feel again. I think of a very banal example like being in love at 16.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memories of creativity come from my early childhood. Like most children, one of my favorite things to do was to draw. Even earlier, I wasn't interested in drawing but in using liquid colors. Back then, I used to sit in my room, wrapped up in my blanket and listening to an audiobook that was far too exciting. It was always particularly exciting to achieve an opaque colour strength from the actually quite transparent colour by stirring and dissolving the color for as long as possible.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
That art can be everything and at the same time doesn't have to be anything.
Tell us about your submission…
Hi, I'm Jule and I'm an artist from Cologne. I'm 24 years old and I've been painting since I was 15, mainly motives related to people. Most of the time I work with oil on canvas like in the motive shown here, which is the descent of a girl into the water. The inspiration for the painting came from a day at the lake last summer. A painting like this is the epitome of a summer memory for me. When I started the painting in winter, winter seemed like a never-ending time of cold and darkness, as it does every year. Summer is a distant memory, even though it was there not so long ago. It is impossible to recall the richness of possibilities and we forget the warmth of summer feelings in winter, thinking it is our only reality.
The picture has a size of 200cmx170cm. I deliberately chose a format that gives you the feeling of being a part of the scenario. If you let yourself the warmth can draw you in and summer will catch up with you. When I started the painting in winter, I kept imagining the summer and the closer I got to the finished result, the more I realised that the picture was no longer a memory but rather a reality.
What does the word memory mean to you?
For me, the word memory means being a person who lives and feels. Memory is what remains and shapes us, also making us who we are or want to be. Memories do not have to be real, they are a matter of interpretation and individuality. They are emotionally influenced if not manipulated which is what makes memories so magical. Memories can be shared and yet they always remain your own.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
There is no specific memory that I would like to return to. Rather, there are feelings that I have felt intensely at certain times of my life that I would like to feel again. I think of a very banal example like being in love at 16.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
My earliest memories of creativity come from my early childhood. Like most children, one of my favorite things to do was to draw. Even earlier, I wasn't interested in drawing but in using liquid colors. Back then, I used to sit in my room, wrapped up in my blanket and listening to an audiobook that was far too exciting. It was always particularly exciting to achieve an opaque colour strength from the actually quite transparent colour by stirring and dissolving the color for as long as possible.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
That art can be everything and at the same time doesn't have to be anything.
__Andrew Werdna @werdnandrew___
Tell us about your submission…
It’s all about taking care of and remembering to look after your house plants. It’s easy to forget and hopefully this illustration can be a reminder to water them so they can grow big and wild.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Not forgetting to grab my keys as I run out the door.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Take me back to when I was in Japan!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
Drawing in my books underneath the table in restaurants.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Trust the process, hard work will pay off!
Tell us about your submission…
It’s all about taking care of and remembering to look after your house plants. It’s easy to forget and hopefully this illustration can be a reminder to water them so they can grow big and wild.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Not forgetting to grab my keys as I run out the door.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Take me back to when I was in Japan!
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
Drawing in my books underneath the table in restaurants.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Trust the process, hard work will pay off!
Kiran K Khepar @kirankpoetry
Tell us about your submission… ‘Nostalgia’ takes you on a trip down memory lane growing up in the UK. It is a homage to millennial culture and captures a time before social media.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Timeless moments inside my mind that I can travel back to for solace; a form of therapeutic escapism.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Endless hugs from my late grandfather.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
Designing a robot costume for a school play and doing the robot dance, it was a success!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
What’s meant for you will not pass you. If it passes you, it was not meant for you.
Tell us about your submission… ‘Nostalgia’ takes you on a trip down memory lane growing up in the UK. It is a homage to millennial culture and captures a time before social media.
What does the word memory mean to you?
Timeless moments inside my mind that I can travel back to for solace; a form of therapeutic escapism.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Endless hugs from my late grandfather.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
Designing a robot costume for a school play and doing the robot dance, it was a success!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
What’s meant for you will not pass you. If it passes you, it was not meant for you.
Gabriela Bran @gaby_bran
Tell us about your submission…
My submission is my take on a retro hoop-throwing game. The objective is to try and get as many hoops to land stacked on the hooks, or in my case clown hats.
What does the word memory mean to you?
The word memory is a mix of past experiences and imaginary worlds. Memories can be clear as we relive moments, or they can be hazy and distant, often with room for invention.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Carefree childhood memories are a go-to, but ones that stick out are dressing up and spending time in the garden, pretending I was a fairy or a clown or sometimes a mix of both.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I remember seeing sunflowers and really enjoying how big and bright they were. I have an early memory of trying to paint one with lots of yellow and orange paint.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Keep doing lots of things you like and enjoy, you never know how they could link together later on!
Tell us about your submission…
My submission is my take on a retro hoop-throwing game. The objective is to try and get as many hoops to land stacked on the hooks, or in my case clown hats.
What does the word memory mean to you?
The word memory is a mix of past experiences and imaginary worlds. Memories can be clear as we relive moments, or they can be hazy and distant, often with room for invention.
A memory you wish you could go back to?
Carefree childhood memories are a go-to, but ones that stick out are dressing up and spending time in the garden, pretending I was a fairy or a clown or sometimes a mix of both.
What is your earliest memory of being creative?
I remember seeing sunflowers and really enjoying how big and bright they were. I have an early memory of trying to paint one with lots of yellow and orange paint.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Keep doing lots of things you like and enjoy, you never know how they could link together later on!