Mandy Tsung's surreal portraits embody the vulnerability, strength, love, and sexuality that are inherent within human beings. Her work is about capturing the complexity of emotion, and is greatly inspired by

editorial fashion photography as well as nature. She draws from her multicultural heritage to blend Ukiyo-e aesthetics with vibrant, pop-culture inspired female characters to create work that is both

captivating in its beauty and thought provoking.

Mandy tell us a little about yourself, where do you live, your lifestyle/background?

I am a full-time artist living in Vancouver, Canada, though I am originally from Alberta. I’m half-Chinese, so I also spent a lot of time in Hong Kong visiting family over the years. Travelling so much as a child and during my youth definitely had an impact on me. Growing up, I studied

hard… played a lot of sports and was always making art.

1.Besides fashion editorial photography, what else inspires you?

Aside from fashion, I find music, books, people, and other art inspiring.

2.What made you move in the direction of using graphite?

Graphite is beautiful because of its simplicity and I love how it gives sculptural and ephemeral qualities to a portrait.

4.Would you like to partner with fashion designers in the future and possibly display your art via that medium?

I would love to work with a fashion designer. I’ve always dreamed of being involved in fashion.

5.What is your favorite canvas to create on?

I can’t say that I have a favorite. More than anything, I have to use a variety of mediums in order to keep me inspired and challenged.

6.What made you move in the direction of using the wood panels?

I began using wood because I needed something strong that didn’t require expensive framing. Once I began using it, I found out how much innate beauty it has, and the grain is often what leads me to create my compositions.

7. Do you enjoy creating on that surface?

I love wood the most, but I’m beginning to use canvas and paper again just for variety. Each material has it’s strengths and weaknesses and it’s a healthy challenge to try to make the most of whatever I’m using

8.Do you get your inspiration from anyone in particular in the fashion world?

I love Alexander Mcqueen, Olivier Theyskens, and so many more. I’m really drawn to fashion that looks like an ornate costume.

9.Do you spend a considerable amount of time in nature to derive inspiration?

I try to drive as little as possible for environmental reasons, so I walk a lot which allows me to really pay attention to the environment around me. Vancouver is so beautiful, there’s nature everywhere. I also have a membership to the Vancouver aquarium.

10. You convey so many different emotions in your subjects…..is the emotion depicted how you are personally feeling at the moment of creation?

I am definitely in an emotional state when I am painting, particularly when I’m planning a piece. I do find that people tend to read a lot of different emotions from a piece, however, so what I felt isn’t necessarily what others might think. In the end, what the viewer is feeling is most

important.

11.Is it hard to let go of pieces you have created.Does there become an attachment?

I never become attached to the finished pieces I make, perhaps because once they are finished I don’t really think of them as being mine. I couldn’t imagine keeping all of the work I create; they are made to be in other people’s lives. I am, however, very attached to my sketchbooks. I

don’t think I could ever tear pages out and sell them.

12. Is there any particular photographer you admire?

I love Irving Penn for his use of natural light, Erwin Olaf because his images are so interesting, my friend Aaron Dunn because he captures something special in his models,… again there are too many to name here.

13.Is sketching an emotional release for you?

When I’m working I am stewing the whole time in whatever thoughts, troubles, temptations, etc. are rolling around in my head. I’m not sure

that it’s always a release, but everytime I finish a painting I feel a step closer to something.

14.Coming from blended ethnicities. How do you feel this has influenced your work?

I feel like I have a wealth of culture to draw inspiration from, and also a wealth of experience from travelling a lot as a child.

15.Your subjects convey beauty, power, love, anger , sexuality. Are there any other emotions you would like your subjects to touch upon in future works?

I prefer not to think too much about what emotions will eventually be portrayed because my process is very organic, whatever I am feeling in

the moment is what is important. Because my life is where I draw emotion from, I know that eventually I will touch on everything.

16. Do you have your old sketch pads. Do you every refer to your early works?

I have all of my old sketchbooks and sometimes, when I am stuck for inspiration, I go back to them. A lot of the time I see good ideas that I had forgotten about.

17. Do you compare your work now to early works to see how you have grown as an artist?

I try not to compare them, but I definitely have moments when I’m working and I realize how much more natural things feel, there’s less worry and stress involved. Often, I look at older work and can finally enjoy it because I am able to step back and see the strengths of the piece, rather

than just all of the things that I wanted to fix while I was making it!

18. Which paintings do you personally prefer the ones with color or without?

In general, what catches my eye is muted color, greyish tones with hints of color here and there. As far as my paintings go, however, I don’t have a preference because I think it’s important to do what is best for the painting and trying to enforce anything can be limiting. Most times,

the colors in my paintings come out much different than how I initially intend, but I’d rather spend my time growing with a painting than chasing a specific vision.

19.Women are prominently the subjects of your works..is there a reason we do not see males as subjects?

I just love to draw women. All of the things that I enjoy painting are embodied in a woman so I’ve never felt the need to express myself through a male visage.

20. Is the femininity of your subjects derived from fashion models?

The femininity of my subjects is derived from my own experiences as a young woman and also from the characters that I resonate with from the books that I read. I don’t consciously seek a fashion model look for my portraits but I grew up reading fashion magazines so I think this has

influenced my tastes. I do use a lot of images of fashion models as references because it is easiest to find good, well-lit photographs of fashion models when I’m searching for a reference, but I wouldn’t uphold them as my ideal of femininity.

Mandy’ latest works will be featured in a new exhibition “Silent Stories” Friday May 13th, 2011 at Ayden Gallery. For additional information please visit: http://www.aydengallery.com/index.php

For additional information on Mandy and her work please visit: http://mandytsung.com

You can also follow Mandy Tsung on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/mandy.tsung.art