Artist Interview with Andrea Mongenie

When did you first fall in love with art, and realise that you wanted to pursue it as a career?

I fell in love with it twice, first when I was a kid and decided I wanted to draw every day. And then I fell in Love with it again about 4 years ago when I was pregnant with my son and started painting every day again.

Are there any inspirational creative influences that had an impact on you while growing up and also for you currently?

Growing up: my mother, she's a painter so I watched her paint a lot. Currently: seeing women slowly taking space in the art world, that excites me. I didn't see a lot of it growing up.

How has your practise changed over time?

It's changed a lot since I started painting, when I was younger I was all about drawing realistic scenes , portraits and representation, I also went through a digital phase when I studied print, I used the computer a lot, manipulating colours and shapes. I now I’m into abstract or the blurry line between abstract and landscape.

What art do you choose to surround yourself with?

Currently on my walls: Olivia Mansfield, Alex Brenchley, Tiffany Bouelle, Emmanuelle Vial (my mother), and some prints from the flea market brought back from Japan and Nice. Like my collectors, I like having a connection to the art I buy. My next purchase I think would be: Chelsea Vivash or Christabel Blackburn.

What things are integral to your creative process?

Nature, Good natural light, Calm (as in uninterrupted time alone), and childcare (lol)

What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given from another artist?

I remember Tiffany Bouelle saying to me something on the lines of "No matter how many doors get slammed in your face just keep walking"

Any current projects you can talk about?

I'm in France for the winter, and I'm working on a new body of work that will all come together as an exhibition at the end of the year here in Bordeaux. I'm working on some large formats and I want to collaborate with a ceramicist or sculptor as well. Also watch out for a painting of mine in Elle Deco next month and two large scale paintings at Liberty in London on the 4th floor

What would your dream art project be?

I'd love to do a residency in Asia, Japan perhaps. Have a gigantic studio, barn sized. And be able to take my family with. I also would love to be asked to do a gigantic mural somewhere on a building outside that anyone could enjoy looking out.

How would you like to see Borneo studio evolving within the next few years?

I love the trajectory that I'm on, so I want to continue on that path, : making bigger, more ambitious work, meeting more amazing people, sending my work out into the world.And the hardest question...

What's your favourite colour?

I love them all, obviously. But I go through phases, every two or three months I get obsessed with different colours and different colour combinations. At the moment I'd say purple, but I'm eternally curious, I like change and movement. I like changing my mind. I love looking back at my different colour phases and seeing how different they are to what I'm doing now.