We copyrighted the idea in 2012. The concept is simple. We identify emerging creatives, and interesting people who we believe will be captivating to read about. We invite people to interview themselves and take a selfie. The self-interview with a selfie was inspired by an empirical tool specifically for use in memory studies research. Our idea was developed to overcome some of the practical limitations of one-to-one interviews and address a new type of journalism. We ask queer creatives & interesting people to interview themselves. The manner can be through storytelling, diary-keeping, questions, images, sound, or any other meaning of representation.
The new series is edited and coordinated by our senior editor Liviu Bulea. Today he invited Ciprian Ciobanu to self-interview.
Ciprian Ciobanu, selfie
1. Who are you?
My name is Ciprian Ciobanu, I’m an MA student at the Faculty of Arts and Design from Timișoara and recently Gen Z editor for Gay45. A big fan of Pop Culture, music, and tv series.
2. Your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is celebrity gossip. I follow them religiously, I just love it.
3. Who’s your favorite celebrity right now? Why?
Julia Fox, all the way! Because she gives us a never-ending stream of lighthearted drama, intrigue, and humor. Her approach to being a celebrity is more of a performance art, and that’s why I love her.
4. What was the most important thing you’ve done so far?
I think finding the courage to express myself and not take everything that people say wrong. You must have a balance in everything you do because your inner saboteur has so much power that it can devour you. It’s also the fact that coming to a different and bigger city, like Timișoara to study painting I have managed to take me out of my comfort zone. I got to know myself more and expanded my creativity area.
5. What’s your idea of art?
Art for me it’s supposed to be fun. I like the idea of playfulness and free space for expression and art should be able to give you that.
Our Lord and Savior Mr. Gummy Bear, acrylic, wool, spray, marker, collage on canvas, 150/180 cm, 2022
6. From where do you inspire when creating?
I take my inspiration from many things. Whether from usual everyday objects or funny and cute cartoons, music has a big part in my field of inspiration. That’s actually my theme of research for my Master’s degree. How music can be translated to other universes, like painting and installation art, and how they influence each other.
Zână, acrylic, spray, marker, plaster on canvas, 150/200cm, 2022
7. 3 artists you enjoy the most?
Keith Haring, Trudy Benson, and Thrush Holmes.
8. What process, material, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
I work with digital art too. So my process when creating usually starts with digital sketching that I later use as a preliminary start. I work in a mixed media field, acrylic, spray, markers, collage, and all kinds of conventional and non-conventional materials.
It’s The Remix Selfie, acrylic, spray, marker, tape on canvas, 100/120cm
9. How do you define success as an artist? As a person? Are you there yet? What do you hope to accomplish?
As an artist, I think it’s confidence, the truth of expression, and courage. As a personal success for me is happiness. I don’t know if I’m exactly there, but I am on the right way. I hope that my art can speak to people and can reach a higher audience as in exhibitions.
Music Void 1, acrylic, marker, spray on canvas, 80/80cm, 2022
Music Void 2, acrylic, marker, spray on canvas, 80/80cm, 2022
10. Picture yourself 5 years from now
5 years from now I see myself finishing my PhD in visual arts, being happy and unapologetically me. With more knowledge, and maybe with a larger public knowing my name and my work.
UPDATE: The self-interview was produced before Ciprian started working with us. He is the Gen Z Editor of GAY45.
Instagram: @ciprict
