Meet Julianna Sseruwagi-Nisbett, London born and bred stylist and artist whose next show is part of a group show that will open at the Saatchi Gallery in London on 14th October.
She agreed to take some time and reflect on her amazing career as well as her relationship with Italian brand Moschino.
How would you describe yourself and how would you describe your art?
My work involves styling but there is an artistic thought process behind it. I want to explore the many reasons why people wear the clothes they do as well as dress them up! Of course fashion in the immediate sense is aesthetic, but there is depth to it as well; it is one the most basic forms of individual human expression. So when you remove the business element from fashion what remains is pure creativity or nothing.
Which exhibition are you most proud of?
I have only had one so far! It was about exploring my relationship with Moschino from the nineties (when I was a teenager), to the present day. The exhibition allowed me to reminisce about the people and places that formed part of the person I am today. Moschino was just as much a part of my teenage years as jungle music, raves and my first love. I think this importance of clothing can be overlooked in fashion today, which is why I try and explore it in my work. I grew up in a quite a deprived area of South London and designer clothes were a status symbol for people who didn’t have much. Nowadays, middle class people wear the same Moschino I used to wear for the opposite reason of wanting to look ‘street’. I find this cross pollination of cultures quite humorous.
Currently, do you have an exhibition and where does it take place?
No. My first exhibition ‘OFF-KEY’ finished last month. You can still see the pictures on my website though.
Where do you take your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from family, friends, strangers, memories, the city and popular culture. I’m also interested in the overlap and the alienation between fashion and the classes.
If you were not an artist, what would you be doing?
Going a bit crazy. I’ve had an eclectic past with events, music, politics and fashion, so hopefully I’d be expressing myself creatively in some way.
What is your next project about?
I am obsessed with Nietzsche; particularly the book Will to Power. He believes all ‘truth’ is just a set of beliefs constructed by one person to dominate others. I am exploring the idea of what is real and what is fake in fashion advertising. As with all my work there are more personal aspects to it as well but I don’t want to give it all away! One of the things I love about each project is that it is constantly evolving so who knows what the final outcome will be.
Do you consider that Art is Alive?
As I said, my work is constantly evolving so I feel like it’s a living being. I believe art is alive as long as we are and it manifests itself in many forms which is what I find so beautiful about it.
Is London an inspiration?
Yes, because it is my home. I believe the place that you grew up in will always be an inspiration as it is a part of who you are, whether you are embracing it or trying to get away from it. In my case it is a bit of both! I am fortunate that London is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural cities in the world which means I can access many different people, places and life experiences in one bus journey. I don’t think of it as consciously as that because it is all I have ever known, but when I reflect I can see it in myself. I went from being an rnb club girl, to an indie band manager, dabbling in politics and philosophy along the way before presenting my love of fashion and art. There are not many places in England you can do that without barely moving postcodes!
What do you think about this blog and what would you wish it?
This is a really lovely way to collate different mediums within art and design. I love getting hints of other people’s inspiration and passion within popular culture and I’m very happy to be part of it.
Thanks Julianna !
Pictures are courtesy of Annin Arts
She agreed to take some time and reflect on her amazing career as well as her relationship with Italian brand Moschino.
How would you describe yourself and how would you describe your art?
My work involves styling but there is an artistic thought process behind it. I want to explore the many reasons why people wear the clothes they do as well as dress them up! Of course fashion in the immediate sense is aesthetic, but there is depth to it as well; it is one the most basic forms of individual human expression. So when you remove the business element from fashion what remains is pure creativity or nothing.
Which exhibition are you most proud of?
I have only had one so far! It was about exploring my relationship with Moschino from the nineties (when I was a teenager), to the present day. The exhibition allowed me to reminisce about the people and places that formed part of the person I am today. Moschino was just as much a part of my teenage years as jungle music, raves and my first love. I think this importance of clothing can be overlooked in fashion today, which is why I try and explore it in my work. I grew up in a quite a deprived area of South London and designer clothes were a status symbol for people who didn’t have much. Nowadays, middle class people wear the same Moschino I used to wear for the opposite reason of wanting to look ‘street’. I find this cross pollination of cultures quite humorous.
Currently, do you have an exhibition and where does it take place?
No. My first exhibition ‘OFF-KEY’ finished last month. You can still see the pictures on my website though.
Where do you take your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from family, friends, strangers, memories, the city and popular culture. I’m also interested in the overlap and the alienation between fashion and the classes.
If you were not an artist, what would you be doing?
Going a bit crazy. I’ve had an eclectic past with events, music, politics and fashion, so hopefully I’d be expressing myself creatively in some way.
What is your next project about?
I am obsessed with Nietzsche; particularly the book Will to Power. He believes all ‘truth’ is just a set of beliefs constructed by one person to dominate others. I am exploring the idea of what is real and what is fake in fashion advertising. As with all my work there are more personal aspects to it as well but I don’t want to give it all away! One of the things I love about each project is that it is constantly evolving so who knows what the final outcome will be.
Do you consider that Art is Alive?
As I said, my work is constantly evolving so I feel like it’s a living being. I believe art is alive as long as we are and it manifests itself in many forms which is what I find so beautiful about it.
Is London an inspiration?
Yes, because it is my home. I believe the place that you grew up in will always be an inspiration as it is a part of who you are, whether you are embracing it or trying to get away from it. In my case it is a bit of both! I am fortunate that London is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural cities in the world which means I can access many different people, places and life experiences in one bus journey. I don’t think of it as consciously as that because it is all I have ever known, but when I reflect I can see it in myself. I went from being an rnb club girl, to an indie band manager, dabbling in politics and philosophy along the way before presenting my love of fashion and art. There are not many places in England you can do that without barely moving postcodes!
What do you think about this blog and what would you wish it?
This is a really lovely way to collate different mediums within art and design. I love getting hints of other people’s inspiration and passion within popular culture and I’m very happy to be part of it.
Thanks Julianna !
Pictures are courtesy of Annin Arts
