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Aug 11, 2016

Subsign Spotlight #015

with Kim Leuenberger

We at Subsign want to contribute to the global creative community, thus the Subsign Spotlight initiative was born. We will bring you interviews and shine the light on a person (or collective) who has shown creativity and courage via their work.

Did we mention we like cars? Well this artist uses tiny cars with great scenery to create some awesome photos. Here is our talk with Kim Leuenberger:

Subsign: Before we get things rolling, let’s get acquainted. Tell us a few things about yourself.

Kim: My name’s Kim, I’m 24, travel and adventure addict. I study (for one more year only yiha) a degree in Photography in London and share my work on Instagram and 500px mostly.

Subsign: What was your childhood like? Do you think your experiences from childhood have influenced your present creative endeavors?

Kim: I grew up in the country side, pretty much in the middle of nowhere in the North of Switzerland, in between two chains of mountains. My mum is as wanderlusty as I am, so we could never stay in one place, always on the go, adventuring, discovering new things. I was a very imaginative kid. You could leave me lay in the garden or the nature on my own for hours, and I would find a way to entertain myself, enter my own little bubble, my own little imaginary world. I wasn’t a very talented artist I’m afraid, but I would constantly paint, draw, concoct potions (I was very good at chemistry!)

Subsign: What lead you to the decision of including in most of your shoots small cars and bikes?

Kim: It wasn’t so much a decision than an experiment, accident. It just happened gradually progressively. One sunny Sunday of May, more than 5 years ago, I took all my toys and decorations from my childhood room out in the garden and started creating this little fantasy world. The first picture I took was of a small blue minivan with a little Paddington bear. Then I went on travelling an definding more of these cars and the collection grew and grew. The Feedback was so positive on Instagram that it pushed me to carry on and keep reinventing the series!

Subsign: Can you share with us how your creative process works? How does every photo start?

Kim: It usually starts with the place itself. I get to the place, and I see if it would work on a low perspective with my cars (I always have one on me). Then usually my mood of the moment in the way I direct the car. Each direction carries a completely different meaning for me. Then it’s the click, usually takes a few, changing just a little inch by inch to make the composition perfect. Once the image is captured, I then edit it on lightroom, or transfer it straight on my phone where I edit with Vsco or Snapseed. By editing I mean only tweaking saturation and contrasts, I don’t do any photoshop on my images (most of the time).

Subsign: How does your work station look like?

Kim: Well at the moment, it’s mostly my phone I work on, as I’m constantly on the go somewhere else. (Right now for example, I’m sitting by the pool in Thaialnd replying to this interview, my macbook on my lap). At home, I’ve built the best high desk ever, but I’m never there to use it!

Subsign: What is your favorite work you have done so far?

Kim: I’ve recently collaborated with Disney for the promotion of the movie the BFG where I created two images that played with proportions with my little Ape Car. I was pretty proud to use my concept for something like this. I’ve also got some upcoming collaboration with cars manufacturers I can’t wait to share with you!

Subsign: Who do you admire as a visionary?

Kim: I have a lot of artists that I would love to be more like, such as Joan Fontcuberta for example. It’s more his ideas and the whole persona that fascinates me. For the estetics of her work, I’d say Rinko Kawauchi and Susan Derges universes are a great inspiration. But I must admit, one of my greatest inspiration is cinema and music. Artists such as Ben Howard for example, are an integrant part of my creative process!

Subsign: What advice could you give to someone starting out in the creative field of work?

Kim: Create create create. Keep on creating all the time. You’ll fail, you’ll get better, you’ll succeed, but always try and try again. I think the more you do something, you better you get at it, which is something really important. Research is very important as well, because although you shouldn’t copy someone’s work, I think looking at other’s people art helps you openeing some doors in your imagination where you’ve never pushed yourself to go before. I have to say, I don’t really consider my cars pictures like Art. Most of my tutors at uni hate these pictures. They’re no deep as such, but when I capture them, I enter my own little bubble, my own little world, that no one can enter and shake me from. It’s just me, the camera and the moment itself, and when I share them on social media and people tell me it makes them smile, it inspires them, it’s the best compliment I could ever receive. I don’t want to trick people perception, I just want to help them open a door to another little world, the one of their childhood imaginations, that they may have forgotten the entrance to.

Subsign: If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Kim: Without an hesitation it would be teleportation! Although I’m not sure you’re able to learn it quite yet.

Subsign: Can you recommend for our readers a book ,a song and a movie?

Kim: Book: How to be an Explorer of the world by Keri Smith

Movie: TV show I’m obsessed with like everyone, Game of Thrones, for the amazing sceneries.

Song: I forgot where we were — Ben Howard

Subsign: If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?

Kim: A huge party on the beach somewhere, from sunset till sunrise where we could all go and lay on our wack in the sea in the middle of the night. And for no reason else than being happy to be alive.

Subsign: What did you wanted to be as a grown up?

Kim: I wanted to be many things, a writer, a journalist, a chemist, a doctor. But something I always wanted to be was to be a great adventurer! I think I’m getting there!