Let’s Talk. Alessandra of AEAND
Where do you call home?
Currently home for me is by the sea in Brighton, UK.
Can you tell our readers a little bit about AEAND? And where did the name come from?
AEAND is a creative studio and the vehicle through which I explore my artistic practice. To date this has come to life within the world of interiors as limited edition prints, textiles & original artworks.
The name aeand comes from my initials 'AE' together with the word 'and', implying there is a pairing to be made. It is leaving space for my aesthetic and my ideas to be applied to any medium or material. I also liked how those letters looked together.
How and when did AEAND materialise?
In 2016 I moved to Berlin. I was hoping to join a textiles print studio, to no success, so I decided to start my own which is where aeand began. Initially I had wanted to create prints and sell them at trade shows like Premier Vision, then I quickly changed course on that idea.
All of my prints were created by hand and I hated the thought of taking my physical, tangible artwork and turning it into a digital file to sell to somebody in some fast moving industry where my work would eventually just become disposable. It took a bit of time to figure out where I felt my work fitted, and whilst I love fashion, interiors made more sense to me as I feel this world has more longevity.
“All of my prints were created by hand and I hated the thought of taking my physical, tangible artwork and turning it into a digital file to sell to somebody in some fast moving industry where my work would eventually just become disposable.”
What was the first piece you ever made?
I made a collection of over 100 handmade textile prints.
Has your style has developed and changed since you started or have you always had a strong sense of style?
Naturally yes, I think there has been an evolution in my work and a sense of maturity which continues to become evermore present through experience. I do feel there are anchor points which keep consistency through what I do, such as process, materials and what inspires me. These fundamentals have created a world in which my visual identity can become established.
I love the warmth and texture within your art. What tends to be your largest form of inspiration?
I absolutely love materials, I love using natural materials for their imperfections and irregularities, this to me is endlessly beautiful and inspiring. Parallel to that is travel. I thrive off travel and experiencing different cultures and ways of life, the smallest details inspire me whilst travelling and I just come alive. A majority of motifs and shapes that I use in my work are inspired by travels, like a visual diary, or a way for me to make memories of a place become physical in a new form.
“A majority of motifs and shapes that I use in my work are inspired by travels, like a visual diary, or a way for me to make memories of a place become physical in a new form. ”
How do you begin your design process?
I take a lot of photos, and usually themes emerge which will give me an idea for a collection or a series. From there I put pencil to paper and draw lots of simple abstracted shapes and forms then experiment with composition and make little stories between the shapes on the page.
Do you run your business solo and if so, what areas do you find most challenging? And which do you find most fulfilling?
I do run my business alone, though recently I have been working with a friend who has been my consultant/mentor/spiritual guide and this has been amazing for me. I’d encourage anybody looking for somebody to work through ideas with, build a vision, have your hand held, to get in touch with my girl Meg.
No doubt about it I enjoy the creative part, obviously. I'm an ideas person so I love dreaming things up and seeing them come to life. I also love the social aspect of connecting with other artists and designers, buyers etc and building relationships. The hardest part for me is managing finances, cash flow, book keeping, any sort of numbers or analytical thinking.
Some people have a tricky relationship with social media. Some days they feel good about it and others can be a real challenge. How do you find managing social media and the challenges that come with it?
Honestly I have always enjoyed social media, and I think part of this is because i’ve never been too obsessed with engagement, or checking how many people/who likes what i post. I am so visual, Instagram is like a playground for me, I love collecting images and I enjoy curating a visual feed, it gives me a lot of fulfilment for myself that i’m not thinking about others when i post, its a creative act most of the time.
It has been so wonderful to connect with people whos work I admire and respect and to make connections with such a diverse creative community, I love that I can just send somebody a message and cheer them on, or compliment their work from the other side of the world. I try not to give myself a hard time if i’m going through a dry patch of not posting, and trust in the desires and urges to share as and when they come, because it doesn't feel good to me to share under any force or pressure.
“I love that I can just send somebody a message and cheer them on, or compliment their work from the other side of the world.”
Who is your favourite artist? And why?
Such a hard question, I have so many, i'm going to have to name a few. I am absoloutley obsessed with Colleen Hermans work and have been for a few years now, it is a dream of mine to own a piece of her work one day, her use of colour blows me away. I was blessed to meet and become friends with Darby Milbrath during an artist residency last year at Casa Balandra, her paintings are pure dreamy escapism. I’m rarely interested in portraiture but I adore Danielle Mckinney's paintings, her use of colour and sense of lighting is incredibly beautiful. Older artists I love are Jean Michel Frank, Isamu Noguchi, Lee Krasner, Pierre Bonnard, Pierre Boncompain, Eduardo Chillida, Joan Miro... there are so many.
What has been your biggest achievement so far?
I’m grateful everyday to spend my time doing what I love and being able to live from that.
What are you reading or listening to at the moment?
I am so bad at reading, so truthfully I don’t really read much. I have been listening a lot about my Human Design profile recently, i’ve just finished watching The Wire and have moved onto the Sopranos (i'm that person who just rewatches the same three tv series over and over). I recently watched Stutz by Jonah Hill and highly recommend it. I have also been treating my inner child by listening to Christmas music lately.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists who would like to make creating their profession?
Keep exploring your interests. Community is so important, so celebrate and support your peers. Be consistent but be kind to yourself, and don’t get sucked into being busy and stressed for the sake of being busy and stressed because you think being busy, and stressed means you're successful. Get comfortable with uncertainty. Learn how to manage your finances, or get somebody to help you. Don't do it for other people, do it for your own fulfilment.
“Don’t do it for other people, do it for your own fulfilment. ”
Do you have a favourite quote?
I don’t have a great memory when it comes to words, one quote I will always remember is 'Progress is impossible without change, and if we cannot change our minds we cannot change anything.’ I don’t remember who this is from but I used it at the start of an application when I was changing courses at University and it has stuck with me. I think it’s a valuable sentence.
What is your dream project?
I would love to design the interiors for a hotel.
What is next for you?
I am really excited about whats next for me. I have been working hard on developing a tableware and glassware collection which I will release in spiring 2023. I look forward for this new direction for aeand, as I focus more on design and partnering with aligned producers to bring ideas to life.
“Progress is impossible without change, and if we cannot change our minds we cannot change anything.”