E’ una mamma come tante con 2 splendide bambine legate indissolubilmente insieme che sono la sua forza. E’ una giovane artista dall’aria sognante con un grande amore per la natura che ha iniziato la sua carriera frequentando la NYC’s Art Students League nel 1996 a 12 anni, per poi passare alla Rhode Island School of Design, al Central Saint Martins, al Fashion Institute of Technology e infine alla Parsons The New School for Design dove si è laureata nel 2006.
Artista poliedrica americana, Mika Cali è prima di tutto una donna con un pizzico di follia che non si accontenta mai e che ha imparato a cogliere le opportunità. E’ sostenitrice del coraggio e della costanza, delle ri-partenze e attraverso simboli marcati e tratti blandi ritrae la quotidianità, gli stati d’animo, la sua vita attuale e i suoi trascorsi. Ritratti di vita comune, di evoluzioni, di realismo. Una pittura segnica prevalentemente black e white – a parte qualche rara eccezione – dove ogni simbolo è un racconto, una confidenza, una riflessione, una nuova consapevolezza nei confronti di se stessa e dell’umanità.
I choose to take the hate energy and not hate back or declaring those with opposing opinions to unfollow me, instead lead by example and transfer it into something positive.
So I beg you creatives, create harder than ever. Don’t get sucked down into the drama of the news; instead please write, paint, sing, dance your heart out. That’s what this life is about – finding what we love and to channel it everywhere we go.
It’s up to us to take the hate and turn it into love.”
1. The chromatic choice of painted symbols is mainly black and white. Is there a reason?
One of the most recurring concepts for me in my work and what I strive for in life is balance. The idea that things are not really black and white, rather finding the grey in between.
White symbolizes purity, new beginnings (manifestation), safety. Black being a color of death, the unknown. For me, death is the opportunity for renewal, like the winter turning into Spring…when things are taken away, it creates space for new so I think they feed each other, like yin and yang.
I also play a lot with the concept of taking the negative and turning it into a positive. Because everything is energy, if we can harness the negative energy and use that energy to create good, then all energy brought to us can be used however we decide to use it.
2. In your opinion how important is meditation for an artist?
I would recommend mediation to anyone, not just for artists as it has been a transformative tool for me to maintain that balance. Everyone tends to mediate slightly differently but I focus a lot on the breath to get me centered. Sometimes it is simply breathing mindfully when faced with a new or stressful situation I am trying to process or it can be a full 10-20 minute ritual. I meditate before and during the creative process with all my work so personally it’s a major part of my method.
3. How are your typical working days?
As a creative and mom of two, I wouldn’t say I ever have a typical day, haha! Two days a week, I co-curate and manage a production space, Witness Apt (@witnessapt) that is also my office in NYC.
I am also a creative consultant and arts + culture editor for @vanish.today – a new media platform focused on outside lifestyle that also helps brands navigate emerging and converging lifestyle markets.
The rest of my week is ideally spent in either my resin studio or my painting studio. I have a bunch of new work I am preparing for for my next show so trying to get into my studios as much as possible these days.
4. You have an enviable body. How is food and fitness important in your life?
Food and fitness are very important to me and also part of my methodology in order to maintain ‘the balance’. Food is fuel so I am mindful about fueling my body with good, fresh nutrients because I need a lot of energy to keep up with my girls and to work out. I like to switch up my fitness routine with a mix of pilates, yoga and cardio circuits. I used to do a lot of trail running and swimming but haven’t had as much time for that recently. As a mom of two girls, I do my best to be a model for them in every way possible so being fit and strong has been something I have always made time for.
