Our partner from Art et al. , Jennifer Gilbert chats to Winda and Mawarini at the end of the project to gain some insights into how they think it all went, and what they learnt. Throughout the process, the artists chatted to each other daily over What’s App as it was kept more private. That makes this interview feel more insightful.
Jennifer: Overall, how did you find the collaboration?
Winda: This project is good for me, it’s fun and allows me to freely explore my creative ideas. I’m lucky to be able to work and meet in person with my collaboration partner.
“We found our friendship through this collaboration.” – Mawarini
Jennifer: Has anything been a real surprise for you during the collaboration?
Winda: Yes! Mawarini gave me some tips on making sketches. It took me back to when I started my journey 8 years ago as I’ve been mostly working on canvas medium these past few years. She showed me some papercut pieces that I really like too, unfortunately it’s hard for me to make one myself.
Mawarini: Some of Winda’s artwork that responded to my drawing was excitingly unexpected, and we had a great time.
Jennifer: What are you hoping audiences get from seeing your work?
Mawarini: Hopefully, the audience can see our friendship through our artwork, regardless of our cultural background. We laugh, share, get inspired, create, and enjoy the art journey together.
“I wanted to show about our friendship and show that everything becomes easier and more beautiful when we have good friends. As a child, I didn’t have many friends and I was afraid to socialise, so it was an unpleasant time in my life. As an adult, I have tried to be more open and social. It turns out that having many distant friends makes me happier.” – Winda
Jennifer: For others potentially doing the Peer to Peer collaborations in the future, what would be your advice to them?
Winda: Communicate a lot with your collaboration friends, and don’t hesitate to put forward ideas and discuss them together. Don’t be shy to ask if there is something you still don’t understand, because maybe your knowledge is different, so there are new things that you might be able to learn.
Mawarini: Enjoy the process, and work with the flow. The collaboration is enjoyable and inspiring.
Jennifer: Anything final you’d like to add?
Winda: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of this project. I am very happy to be able to participate in this project and also to get a new friend in my life.”