In order to get to know the creative industry and become well acquainted with all its different aspects every creative artist, designer or architect has to pass through that initial stage of being an intern. Finding the right internship it is a whole process and experience on its own. Considering the recession and all those young, creative people looking to brake through the industry no matter what it takes, you kind of start feeling like a gladiator fighting for its own life. It is a jungle out there and we have to be predators in order to survive. We have to fight constantly for our convictions and dreams.
Everything starts with one enormous research of the industry you are interested in. Who are the players… What are they looking for and what you can offer in exchange of the willingness to accept you in their secret world. Countless emails… Countless motivation letters… Countless hopes and finally… rejections. “Thank you for your interest in our company, but…” there is always a “BUT” which does not promises anything good or too optimistic for your future. How difficult could it be to offer your hard working soul for free?! Well… it turns up it is extremely difficult especially being a foreigner.
I was almost at the point of giving up when a miracle happened. Could not believe on my luck. Someone calling himself Rory Dobner answered my prays. I have to confess I was not familiar with that artist at the time, being British based and me foreigner. But… what the hack! Please excuse my expression and willingness to brake the language rules. I grasped that chance. After specifying details such as starting date, address, names for contact etc. I could surrender myself to the joy of being a successful intern.
Dressed in my most beautiful and elegant dress in terms of looking professional enough, I turned up in Rory Dobner’s studio based in Hampstead/London. Before opening that door could already imagine everything to its smallest detail. How it looks like, what kind of people work there, what I was supposed to do, but you know what… reality could be very often a funny thing. I found myself not in a typical office environment or nigher in the environment I have been imaging. Surrounded by interesting objects and heads of dead animals I could feel the Victorian atmosphere of that flat. The place itself has been a real experience to me. Combination of Victorian and Industrial interior elements managing to be dark and cozy at the same time. Soft, vintage sofas in purple, red and grey colors. Natural materials such as wood, stone and iron.
A narrow staircase brought me to the underground level where the kitchen and the studio were based. I could literally be inspired from every single object in that house. Interior design is one of my many passions. An old phone from the 20′s transformed into a table lamp. A wood trunk used as a table. Alice in Wonderland.
I met Rory in his studio wile he was framing inks for some customers. A friendly, down to earth person, absorbed in his own work. My outfit was definitely out of place having to help him with the framing and painting an incredibly beautiful vintage table. It was more hands-on based work having to do with framing, painting, image manipulation and packing orders but hey… multitasking is a must in every job position. With openings all around the world I was more than happy to help them sort out the visual display of some of the inks.
I had to pass through different processes of organization of the work in the studio. Being more time there made me more valuable and helped me gain more trust. I found myself responsible for organizing the work of the other interns and helping Rory to source production companies, list prices, upload images on his website... I basically had to retouch some of them, at least the one I made and think that the results were pretty good. Getting deeper and deeper in the organizational part of his studio activities, I kind of got away of the so called hand-on based work. I had to leave other interns doing that and focus on bills to be payed, price lists which we were printing for his upcoming exhibits and opening shows, organize the packaging and logistic process.
It has been a good experience especially in getting closer to the industry and its little secrets that I discovered through meeting people and exchanging ideas. Overall it is a good thing to be an intern but that is just a one, small step before the real action.
0 коментара:
Публикуване на коментар