ANDREA MONGENIE
Borneo Studio was founded in 2016 by London-based artist Andrea Mongenie. However, it was just two years ago that Mongenie decided to lean into her creativity.
“ Studying art at university can sometimes discourage you from pursuing it, it took me a while to feel confident about what I was making´´.
Thankfully she decided to pursue her passion for creating abstract art and hasn´t looked back. The interplay between tone, texture, and form is what makes Mongenie´s work stand out. Her works appear fluid and cohesive through her ability to skillfully blend various colours and often add her signature distinct colour/s within the piece. Creating a uniquely harmonious composition that always emits a sense of calm.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Paris. Moved to London when I was seventeen and I’ve been here ever since.
An artist, musician, and actor you´d invite to dinner.
An artist: Etel Adnan/Cindy Sherman
A musician: Chris from Christine and the Queens.
An actor: Mindy Kaling/Amy Poelher/Lena Dunham
Creativity is …
Creativity is everywhere. I like seeing creativity where it’s not obvious. I think when you’re younger, you see things in black and white, creative and non-creative, artists and office jobs. But in fact, something like starting a business can be one of the most creative things you can do, and anyone who has children knows that you have to be constantly creative to keep the ship afloat. Anything, where you have to make decisions, gives you room to be creative. And a lot of creativity is invisible, like good design, when it works well you don’t even notice it’s there.
Most difficult thing about creating.
There are lots of things around painting that can sometimes be difficult, the admin, like making sure finished pieces get framed, packaged, cataloged, delivered, etc., but I can’t complain, I get to do what I love so a little annoyance is just part of the tapestry.
How did the quarantine affect your creative process?
It pushed me to create more to fight the loneliness, forced me outside my comfort zone. It didn’t stop me from creating, it was the opposite, it made me do more. I think it depends on what your home situation is, but for me, not having schools open meant there were tiny windows of time where I could be alone and work. And that was infuriating and limiting but I also found it galvanised me to make good use of the time I had. And so it was a really productive time.
Three words to describe your art.
Calm – Solid – Wide.
What music do you listen to when creating?
I’m a musical omnivore, it goes from classical to jazz, to pop to folk depending on the mood. Westerman, Sufjan stevens, Liv, Daniel Caesar, Sudan Archives, Arlo Parks, Sigrid, Adrianne Lenker, Frankie Cosmos, Big Thief, Andy Shauf, Weaves, Thundercat, Joni Mitchell, Tei shi, Jamila Woods… the list goes on… I love discovering new music, and I constantly get inspired by it. On a low day, music can turn everything around for me.
How has your art has evolved over the past three years?
When I started Borneo Studio my first collections were digital prints, using inks, chemicals, water, and then manipulating the image on the computer. I also went through a collage and paint phase. I might come back to that. At the moment I’m very into working on the canvas, the texture of the paint, the surprises that come from working in the analog world. My work has gotten bigger every year, my colours and shapes have evolved. I’m enjoying playing with light and different finishes at the moment, mixing shiny and matt in the same painting.
Is there something creative you’d like to try?
I want to create sculptures or objects with my hands. I’m experimenting with materials at the moment. And there’s always building a house from scratch, that’s always on my list.
Did you always want to be an artist?
I did but never had the courage to do it until 2 years ago. Studying art at university can sometimes discourage you from pursuing it, it took me a while to feel confident about what I was making. If I wasn’t an artist…my current plan B would be to train to be an architect. I’ve always loved materials, design and I’ve always wanted to build a house.
How do you keep creativity flowing?
By traveling, walking in nature a lot, appreciating light, the sea. And by always pushing my comfort zone a bit further, starting things I’m not sure I can finish. Creativity lies in the blurry moment between planning things and accidents so if you keep pushing the boat out you give yourself more opportunities for that to happen. I also get inspired by confident women working hard to build their careers.
“I get obsessed with certain colour combinations and I like to play with them over and over again a little bit obsessively.´´
Most inspiring place you have visited.
There’s no one most inspiring place, but a few ones that come to mind: a simple dusty mountain view in Provence, Beijing, for the all-out assault on the senses, and Iceland, for the opposite, for the stillness and emptiness.
Your favourite art movement.
My favourite one is in the future and involves a lot more women artists and I can’t wait to find out its name.
An artist on Instagram that we need to follow.
There’s so many… for today I’ll say Emilia Ilke, I like how she so beautifully allies family, home and art.
What inspires your colour choices?
The weather, my mood, my surroundings, a painted door, an outfit, a mountain, a flower, a sunset… I get obsessed with certain colour combinations and I like to play with them over and over again a little bit obsessively.
Words you live by.
“To be creative you have to let your mind wander”.
