Tell me a little bit about your background in art, and how FashGif was created.
GL: FashGif began on a bit of whim just over 2 years ago after I made my first GIF and thought, "That was fun, I need to make more!" FashGif made sense because I work in fashion and I liked the consistency of animating runway images.
Tell me a little bit about what the GIF format represents to you, how is it different versus other mediums you've experimented with.
GL: GIFs are instantly engaging, now that's not to say still images aren't but a still image has to be really powerful to grab your attention. Same goes with videos; you need a good recommendation or a bit of patience to sit through an advert and load time for a video. I guess GIFs sit somewhere between the two, plus the repetition really helps to strengthen a message.
What's your process in selecting the pictures and themes you choose?
GL: There's a number of elements I look for in an image, either a really bold outfit, a particularly popular/striking model or a controversial/highly praised collection. These elements helps to engage people and if an image happens to have all three, even better!
The Paco Rabanne obviously follows a different sense of style than Chalayan Fall 13.Are you just like "this is the one"?
GL: Yes, with many images I go, "oh yes that's it!" even from just looking at the thumbnails. Sometimes I'm very enamoured with a collection but that doesn't mean it lends itself to being animated. Other times I might stare at an image for some time before an idea drops into place. This is the great challenge with doing requests, I have to make an image work even if it wouldn't be my first choice. Sometimes this can have surprising results.
What I find very unique are where you demonstrate these sort of in process on screen commands, (photoshop, youtube, google maps) Explain to me why you chose to use those images?
GL: I guess that's my nod to Interent Art/Web Art. I'm not an Internet Artist per se but I do enjoy that type of work, that aesthetic. So here and there if I think it's appropriate I'll include elements of the Photoshop program etc. within the GIF.
Are these works more critical of technology? Are you in a state of transition - or just mixing it up?
GL: I think just mixing it up. Personally I'm not critical of technology, I think I have a healthy relationship with it - I can walk away from my screen, leave the house without my phone! On the other hand, I probably have a slight Internet addiction - I'm yet to touch on that in a GIF!
I noticed your most recent work and some others are indicative of the "sea punk" aesthetic, what do you think is the future of new media art?
GL: Again, I touch base on Seapunk here and there partly because it's so popular within the Tumblr community but there's also a tongue-in-cheek element to those GIFs. Personally I love a trend, especially a memorable one, it's a great way to look back on a decade or a time. I even have a few Seapunk pieces in my wardrobe! But I'm not Seapunk at all day-to-day, I'm very boring really. I call my style 'Grunge Nun' because it's very messy and covered up ha!
Do you think viral culture will play a big role in making these works of art more popular to the art community?
GL: I'm not sure how the art community perceives GIFs. The common view of art is that you can buy and sell it, now someone can pay me to make a GIF but they're only receiving a file, to display it at home or in a gallery you'd need an iPad, a screen etc. and I can't imagine many people having them at home! I guess it all goes into mixed media. I don't consider my GIFs art but I studied art at school and maybe look at artists with too much respect to ever consider myself one.
Are there any artists doing similar work who influence you? Do you have any copycats?
GL: There are! And they are vastly more talented! And I don't believe I have any copycats but to be honest, I don't mind if I do. The more the merrier. It's a fun medium so the more people producing the GIFs the more we can learn from each other. Some of my favourites: Mr. GIF, Dream Beam, Gifenchy, Monster Hub just to name a few.
Do you think these works will one day grow to exist in a gallery?
GL: Maybe! I actually really love animating images that aren't necessarily fashion based. Last year two of my animations were featured at Art Basel in Miami for the Moving the Still exhibition (Flats, Napier Street Fitzroy and Emoji in Motion) so I guess one day I'd like to explore animating something non-fashion for exhibition purposes.
What do you have planned next? I noticed 2012 was a very big year for you.
GL: Well I'm currently job hunting (when I'm not making GIFs I do product design) and hoping to travel in the next year or so. No major goals, happy to go with the flow for now, though I have a secret dream of doing a Prada Fantasy look book...!
Do you plan on creating work for more commercial purposes, cultural critique?
GL: Sure! Commercial or otherwise, I love taking on projects because I enjoy the challenge and thought process.
What were some of your initial reactions to the media exposure, it must have been exciting!
GL: Yeah it's always exciting when you get any sort of press or response, definitely exciting and surprising. Still is! Any recognition is nice, show's people are engaging with the site.
What do you do in your spare time when you aren't creating or researching future work?
GL: I do ballroom dancing, drink a lot of coffee, listen to a lot of music and hang out with friends. I should be cleaning my room... it's eternally messy...!
Wait a second… were you a child actor? What was that like?
GL: Aha! You've done your research! I was, between 16 and about 21. I think. It was awesome, really great fun, I mean everyday is different and exciting, you can't beat it. Unfortunately it's a very tough industry and I wasn't a brilliant actor so I ultimately gave it up. I learnt a lot though and once in a blue moon I miss it. I often joke I'll become a talkshow host one day. Ha ha! We'll see!
Greta Larkins is a production designer based out of Australia, Larkin's work has been featured at Art Basel and has been commissioned by major brands like Calvin Klein and Kenzo.
View more of Greta's work on Tumblr.
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