New Hero: Melissa Mulligan
AURORE had a chat with the enchanting artist Melissa Mulligan and explored how she finds her feminist muse through her powerful emotions, both good and bad.
What is a personal favorite or representative works of yours?
It’s really difficult to choose one thing that I’m “most proud of” because 1. I’m not sure what single piece of work is most representative, and 2. I have a hard time qualifying anything I make as a “work” because I instantly get hit with imposter syndrome… My most recent ones - the collages - are important to me because it’s a step in a new direction I’m taking. I’ve always been drawn to eroticism and sensuality, but particularly the unfiltered, melancholic and at times disturbing representations of sexuality and the body. I’m becoming more and more comfortable using my own image in this expression, and while I’ve always drawn from my own experience and inner world, I’m becoming more comfortable portraying it in such a literal sense.
I enjoy blurring the lines between reality & fantasy, fact & fiction. I’m not interested in portraying a curated, glamorized version of eroticism; I think we see enough of that. As a woman, I’ve been bombarded with the message “be sexy not vulgar.” But I don't care if some find me vulgar. I don’t want to make my sexuality more palatable for society.
What different mediums for creating do you use? Which are your favorite ones?
As for my process, this may be a cliché response, but I don’t really have one. I’m often inspired to write by images - whether it be still or moving images, such as cinéma. I’d say it usually starts with the visual and writing is what comes from that. Or it can be sound, scent (I dabbled in some perfume making). Writing is my strongest creative medium, but I refuse to limit myself to one medium. I’ve experimented with drawing, painting, embroidery, photo, video, collage… I write either in French or in English, depending on what words come to mind.
What projects you’re working on lately?
I do have something that I can share with you that hasn’t been seen by many. I made a short experimental film on 35mm with a friend of mine as the DOP, and wrote a narrative text that I read as a voice over. I’m quite pleased that it won an award for “best erotic film” for the Paris based @hallucineafilmfestival
https://vimeo.com/579893992
Password: Melissaforestsub
What is the relationship between sexuality and inspiration expression for you? Previous new heroes say they feel sexy when they are inspired. Does that ring true for you?
I feel sexy when I feel inspired, but I think it’s feeling in touch with my sensuality and sexuality that tends to come first, and that inspires me… my creativity often flows from that.
I think every encounter is worth writing or painting about, because even the most boring sexual encounters have some meaning; it all depends on the larger emotional context and what I want to convey or express. I have a bit of a penchant for the dark and melancholy, so I tend to be inspired to write about sexual encounters that weren’t necessarily joyous and thrilling. One thing I enjoy about any kind of art is making something beautiful and moving or expressing some truth out of raw emotions- including- and I might go as far to say, especially- the negative emotions.
For me, with my collages I try to express both the body as art and sexy as art… I particularly enjoy removing the subject from the context, isolating it. Upon further reflection, I think it comes from my tendency to be “in my head” or “in my own world” a lot of the time. I’m sure many people can relate to this feeling of existing in one’s own universe… the times when the background seems to melt away..”
If you could teach everyone something based on your experience, what would it be?
I want to teach people that you shouldn’t allow anyone to make you feel insecure about your body, especially as it pertains to sex. Exploring my sexuality and kink helped me to enjoy and love my body, and it also taught me that my body shouldn’t stop me from doing anything I put my mind to.
Do you see sex as a form of art?
I try to express both the body as art and sex as art… I particularly enjoy removing the subject from the context, isolating it. I’m sure many people can relate to this feeling of existing in one’s own universe… the times when the background seems to melt away.
Is creating your art therapeutic?
One thing I enjoy about any kind of art is making something beautiful and moving or expressing some truth out of raw emotions, including the negative emotions. I think every encounter is worth writing or painting about, because even the most boring sexual encounters have some meaning; it all depends on the larger emotional context and what I want to convey or express…
