Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Hope in Adversity Interview’ with Fiona Christian, from East Sussex, England, UK
I am currently shielding for twelve weeks and in my home, we have all had to make adaptions to adjust to this pandemic, although, at least, currently, we are all well. I’ve been recalling many of the good words our dear friend and talented artist Carolyn Hall Young shared with us, not least ‘in any given situation we can always choose, hope over fear‘ – let’s all choose hope.
I am aware there are many others also in a similar situation at the moment and I felt it would be a good idea to create an interview, reflecting these times with stunning imagery. This is a new series of interview with mobile photographers and artists discovering what they’re creating and how in these difficult times. Our fourteenth interview is with talented mobile photographer, Fiona Christian from East Sussex, England, UK. She reminds us that if we cling to hope whilst living in the unknown we can in some ways defy the destruction and suffering that is going on around us. It helped me to recall a quote by Patrisse Cullors, one of the founders of Black Lives Matter, spoken in an entirely different time and context “provide hope and inspiration for collective action to build collective power to achieve collective transformation, rooted in grief and rage but pointed towards vision and dreams”. I feel it’s also as relevant to what we’re all dealing with now and how we at TheAppWhisperer continue to acknowledge hope and grief and continue to strive to support each and everyone one of you. Enjoy!
To read others in this series of interviews with Jill Lian, Vicki Cooper, Gerry Coe, Sarah Bichachi, Sukru Mehmet Omur, Phyllis Shenny, Alisa Smith Williams, Joy Barry, Ile Mont, Peter Wilkin and Susan Latty, please follow this link
If you are social distancing or social isolating at this time, are you using any additional time you may have to create mobile digital art or photography?
I can be a bit of an introvert most of the time so the early social distancing guidelines didn’t make much of a difference at first. We’ve been in lockdown here in the UK for about a week now and have spent the time sorting the garden and doing a few odd jobs around the house.
I haven’t been confined long enough yet for the novelty to have worn off, so I haven’t spent much time editing or creating new art. I do have a quite a few ideas that have been brewing for a while though so I’m sure as the cabin fever sets in, I’ll get working on them.
I’ve been doing my #365 daily photo project which is where I’ve noticed the biggest difference. I’m lucky to live in a very rural location with woods and fields only a short walk away but spending so much more time indoors has limited the options somewhat.
If so, have you noticed the style of art that you’re creating changing from what you would normally create?
I try to make my #365 pics as varied as I can so I’m going to have to get creative with some still life shots. It’s something I’ve been meaning to develop for a while so it’s the perfect time to start.
If yes to the above, can you explain how your art has changed?
It’s too early to notice any change but I will certainly enjoy having the time to explore new ideas and techniques.
Have you found additional inspiration to create at this time?
My daily bursts of creativity have tended to focus more on straight photography than art. Although this bizarre situation that the world now finds itself in, has given me a few ideas that I shall look forward to developing. A few years ago I started working on a series based around the ecological crisis that we’ve been facing. I’m hoping to take that a little further.
Is creating mobile digital art/photography helping you at this time specially, how and why?
Not specifically. I’m trying to approach this whole situation as positively as possible and am very much enjoying the free time and the opportunity to work in my garden. In previous years I’ve felt anxiety as I’ve watched the weeds devour everything while I’ve been too busy to deal with them. I’m now experiencing a dichotomy of emotions as the daily news brings fresh horrors to a strangely calm and relaxed world. I dare say once the rain starts to fall, I’ll be very glad of my digital escape pod.
Do you feel that sharing mobile art/photography at this time is spreading a unity of peace?
Most definitely. Now more than ever before, the online communities are keeping people connected. The wonderful images that the digital art & photography community are sharing is, without doubt bringing much needed joy and hope to those in isolation the world over.
There’s a tremendous sense of togetherness in all the different online groups which I’m sure is making a big difference to those that are struggling to cope.
Anything else you would personally like to add…
As I said, I’m trying to approach this situation with as much positivity as I can muster. Some days this is harder than others but I’d like to acknowledge that there are some benefits to counter the obvious tragedies that we are all witnessing.
The pollution levels have fallen drastically, the air is cleaner and the environment is benefiting greatly from our misfortune.
Local communities are coming together in support of the elderly & vulnerable and people are putting health and well-being before industry.
Once this is all over I sincerely hope that humanity will have learned some lessons and not rush back to the treadmill.
Many thanks to Joanne for continuing to be an inspiration to us all.
Stay safe and well everyone!
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TheAppWhisperer has always had a dual mission: to promote the most talented mobile artists of the day and to support ambitious, inquisitive viewers the world over.
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter, creator of the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website— TheAppWhisperer.com— TheAppWhisperer platform has been a pivotal cyberspace for mobile artists of all abilities to learn about, to explore, to celebrate and to share mobile artworks. Joanne’s compassion, inclusivity, and humility are hallmarks in all that she does, and is particularly evident in the platform she has built. In her words, “We all have the potential to remove ourselves from the centre of any circle and to expand a sphere of compassion outward; to include everyone interested in mobile art, ensuring every artist is within reach”, she has said. Promotion of mobile artists and the art form as a primary medium in today’s art world, has become her life’s focus. She has presented lectures bolstering mobile artists and their art from as far away as the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea to closer to her home in the UK at Focus on Imaging. Her experience as a jurist for mobile art competitions includes: Portugal, Canada, US, S Korea, UK and Italy. And her travels pioneering the breadth of mobile art includes key events in: Frankfurt, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Paris, Brazil, London. Pioneering the world’s first mobile art online gallery - TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com has extended her reach even further, shipping from London, UK to clients in the US, Europe and The Far East to a global group of collectors looking for exclusive art to hang in their homes and offices. The online gallery specialises in prints for discerning collectors of unique, previously unseen signed limited edition art. Her journey towards becoming The App Whisperer, includes (but is not limited to) working for a paparazzi photo agency for several years and as a deputy editor for a photo print magazine. Her own freelance photographic journalistic work is also widely acclaimed. She has been published extensively both within the UK and the US in national and international titles. These include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Popular Photography & Imaging, dpreview, NikonPro, Which? and more recently with the BBC as a Contributor, Columnist at Vogue Italia and Contributing Editor at LensCulture. Her professional photography has also been widely exhibited throughout Europe, including Italy, Portugal and the UK. She is currently writing several books, all related to mobile art and is always open to requests for new commissions for either writing or photography projects or a combination of both. Please contact her at: [email protected]
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