Konda Labas, Lucija

Lucija Konda Labas
Croatian videomaker

biography

Interview: 10 questions

1. Tell me something about your life and the educational background

I was born in 1975 in Zagreb, Croatia. In 1999 I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb with the Department of Painting. I attended MA in Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia (2004-2006) with the topic “Possibilities of application of new materials in the field of art”. Since 2004 I have been working at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, today as a Docent. In 2012 I completed Postgraduate doctoral studies (the topic: “The concept and the role of faktura in a painting: display of development and an effort to define it”) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, and thereby obtained the title Doctor of Art (dr.art.). Fields of my activities are painting, drawing, video, collage, photography, digital graphic and artist’s book. Since 2000 I have been exhibiting constantly at home and abroad (http://lucijakondalabas.com/?page_id=935). In 2013 my Video “Cyborg Dream” has been selected and presented in manifestation POPRALLY Abstract Currents in MOMA, New York (http://vimeo.com/groups/poprallyabstract/page:28/sort:date).

2. When, how and why started you filming?

I started filming during my Postgraduate doctoral studies thanks to my late professor Ivan Ladislav Galeta (Croatian multimedia artist, cinematographer and film director). He taught me about history, theory and practice of film as an art form. He was in love with filming and films, so he passed his fascination and passion onto me. It was a great honour to know him.

3. What kinds of topics have your films?

I have been especially motivated by the impact on the individual person when indistinguishable constructions and communications, that pursued our daily life, get visualised. I have been motivated by the influence of sending messages in public and how technology can provide new ways of data-human contact. Social anxiety is conclusively present in my artistic concept with simultaneous visual presentation to construct a general attempt to produce individual experiences and the possibility that allows new statement potential to everyone. As a result I use video media as a place of continuous communication through data visualization processing.

4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?

In my art work I tend to merge different art forms, so besides video I use painting, photography, drawing, digital graphics and other similar visual forms. Therefore, I am interested in connecting pictures and segments into a new unity. I presume an initial theme which I explore and develop into the visualization/film.

5. Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.

I use a digital camera, Adobe After Effects software (for visual effects and motion graphics) and Photoshop.

6. These days digital technology is dominating also video as a medium. In which way the digital aspect is entering the creation of your videos, technologically and/or conceptually?

Digital technology allows endless possibilities in both aspects, technologically and conceptually. It allows visualisation of human imagination, which I think opens totally new fascinating doors to visual creation.

7. How do you finance your films?

I finance my films on my own.

8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team?
If you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?

It depends on the movie concept. I formulate my ideas on my own, but sometimes I need a team for realisation. I like to work in both ways, individually and in a team, each method has its own advantages.

9. Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making?

I get influences from everywhere: books, art works, philosophy, exciting people and ideas, dreams, nature, science, urban environment, everyday situations, movies, contemporary ambience, technology and my own personal visual creations.

10. What are your future plans or dreams as a film/video maker?

I intend to continue making films which combine different forms of the visual medium. I like to create new “worlds” which offer alternative ways of looking and thinking.

Can works of yours viewed online besides on the CologneOFF platform? Where?
List some links & resources

www.lucijakondalabas.com
http://vimeo.com/groups/poprallyabstract/page:28/sort:date