Dream-like Depictions of Reality | Michelle Ariza
Dream-like Depictions of Reality
Michelle Ariza
About Michelle
I was born in Colombia and I never really thought I would leave the country but my family has always loved to explore new places so I’ve been moving around the globe from Mexico to Portugal, which is where I currently live and study. Traveling really opened my mind and made me realize how diverse and beautiful the world is. At the same time I feel like I don’t belong to any place in particular so I want to keep traveling until I find where I belong. I’m twenty years old and I attended a total of eleven different schools from kindergarten to the 12th grade. I’m fluent in Spanish, English and Portuguese and my dad was the one who got me into photography.
When and how did your journey as an artist begin?
I think my journey began at a very young age, ever since I can remember I always loved to draw and paint and I still doodle but not much as before, I started to take pictures when I was around eight years but at the time it felt more like something to pass time rather than something that motivated me and gave me a purpose. I think it all started to make sense when I was fifteen, the pictures I took made me feel good and I wanted to share them with everyone else.
Could you describe a bit about the type of photography/design do you pursue?
The main things I like to photograph are urban sceneries such as architecture, people, places and nature but in reality anything I encounter on my walks and journeys can become my subject of interest. I don’t think I have an style yet, I’m always changing and that really reflects my personality, which is like water, always taking the form of the environment it encounters.
What artists in your field have influenced your work?
There’s a lot of people that really inspire me but I don’t think I would like to be influenced by them. What I mean is, I want to be as me as I possibly can and not just try to copy their work. My favorite photographer that I’ve been following for a few years now is Nguan, I like how he captures the modern life in pastel tones and yet the photos give you the sense that they’re quite old like they belong in another period of time. Besides that, I really like Korean photographers because of their sense of aesthetic.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
That’s a though question... I would say my aesthetic is how I want the world to be or better, how I see it through my eyes. It’s a dream-like depiction of reality, I want it to be beautiful and and I want it to arouse emotions in people. But I want it to be real.
Are there any projects you are currently pursuing or would like to pursue?
I’m constantly getting new ideas, when I see a place/thing I like just click the button of my camera and more ideas come to me. I don’t rush things. I just let the inspiration flow. I want to keep exploring new stiles and showing the world my vision of it and I’m just happy when I do this, it is definitely a passion.
