Interview with Mandy Tsung

I first met Mandy Tsung when going to interview Ben Tour at the Ayden Gallery in preparation for her first show in Vancouver. I had seen Mandy's work briefly prior to the show but wasn't expecting to meet her for some time. While waiting for Ben, I sat with Mandy for a while as she finished tiny brush strokes on a healthy sized wood panel. This interview is not from that conversation but since then, I have been keeping a close eye on her and her work. Her emergence in the art community since she has been in Vancouver has been awesome and I recently had the pleasure of interviewing her dude, Russell Alton (Choplogik) so I made sure to lock down some words with Mandy while she had time. 

Hometown and current city?

I was born in Banff, raised in Calgary, and now I call Vancouver my home.

How long have you been in Vancouver and what brought you here?
I've been in Vancouver for about 1 1/2 years. I'd wanted to live here since I was in college but always had a reason to stay in Calgary. When Ayden Gallery began showing my work I realized that it was finally time to move where it made the most sense to be - Vancouver.

When we first met, you were preparing for a show at the Ayden Gallery how did that hook up go down and how have things been since?
Well, this is a funny story. It all started when I sent Ken an email with a few images attached. I was sneaky and used someone's name as a reference who had given me the name of the gallery after they checked out my work, but whom I'd never actually met in person. Regardless of what you'd call the situation, it got Ken to open the email and take a look at my work. I made a trip out to Vancouver to meet with him and a short while later he asked me to fill a spot in an upcoming show where another artist had dropped out. It was only a month away so I had to bust serious ass to make all the work in time. While I was in Vancouver madly prepping for the show, I ended up meeting my unwitting reference in person for the first time. Ken was there and realized that this person didn't actually know me. He got really upset at me but I managed to redeem myself by following through on my promises to him. Now we're friends.

It's not easy being the new kid on the block, how has your experience been as an artist in a new community? Do you have any advice for other artists trying to adapt to a new city, getting involved with galleries and connect with other artists?
My experience in Vancouver has been amazing. The young artist community has been very welcoming and I've made some great friends. As far as advice, knowing a few people before you land in a new city makes the whole process easier. I would say to make the most of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, etc. I'm shy and so are a lot of people, especially artists, which makes meeting new people at live events so hard! I would almost rather stand alone in a corner then walk up to a group of strangers and start a conversation! So for me, breaking the ice online is way easier and I meet a wider range of people (both in terms of varying disciplines and locales) than if I only went to openings, where it's mostly the same faces all the time.

What is the origin of these stunning ladies you create and have you ever gotten into other types of characters?
It's a long story, but the origin of these ladies basically began with me sitting down and deciding to create what I've always wanted to. I've always loved to draw women and comic books were my first introduction into the aesthetics of the drawn female form. Later came the influence of fashion magazines and Suicide Girls. After art school I began drawing them for myself, not really thinking about showing them to galleries or even selling them. As for other characters, they find their way into my paintings mostly as animals. I definitely think my collaborations with Russell (Choplogik) will push me in the direction of painting more characters.

You have mentioned before your childhood interest with comics, any ones in particular that have inspired your work?
The comics that I used to read were X-Men, Glory, Avengelyne, Shi... there are more but I can't remember their names.

Other artists that inspire you?
Other artists that inspire me would have to be James Jean, Sam Weber, Nathan Ota, Mars-1, Joao Ruas, Lola, Lori Earley, Audrey Kawasaki, Kristian Adam, Nomi Chi... there are lots and they all inspire me in different ways. I also love photographers like Erwin Olaf, Irving Penn, and my very talented friends Carla Fedje, Aaron Dunn, and Cherry Vega. My greatest source of inspiration, however, comes from novels because they create the idea of a character without showing me what they look like. I feel as if it becomes my job to give them a physical body. While I'm painting they are right beside me, directing me.

I've seen your collaborations with Chop, of course and with Kristian Adams, are there other artists that you'd really like to work with?
I'd love to collaborate with James Jean, Nomi Chi, Mars-1 and do more with Russell (Choplogik). It's amazing how much you learn from another artist when you are working with them.

What is a typical day like for you?
On a typical day I'm up early, eating a big breakfast and then coffee, taking a walk or cycle around the neighborhood, and then I work in 2-3 hour blocks throughout the day interspersed with lots of food, specifically sushi! Russell is always around to bounce ideas off of or steal a cuddle from. It's the perfect day. Some friends and I have a weekly Art Jam night where we work on various small projects. Since getting out to see friends more, I've become more focused and productive in the studio.

Who was the last artist you gushed over meeting?
I gushed over meeting Nomi Chi!

Guilty pleasure art supply?
My guilty pleasure for art supplies... flawless, bone smooth watercolor paper, good brushes, and wood panels with beautiful wood grains. I can spend hours picking out just these 3 things.

What do you rock while working?
I love listening to A Perfect Circle, Tool, Massive Attack, City and Color, The Killers, Chopin, Philip Glass, Zoe Keating, Fuzzmuzz, movie soundtracks, and plenty of electronic mixes by dj's like Melo.Nade, Adam Freeland, Bassnectar, Dan Solo...

Favorite adult beverage?
Since moving to Vancouver I've really developed a love for local beer, though I'm allergic to alcohol so I can only have tiny bit.

You have a plethora of paintings on raw wooden panels, when did you make the switch from traditional canvas to wood and how has it changed your work?
I think it's mostly technical reasons for using wood - it's got a smooth feel but is full of visual texture from which to create a composition, the color is a beautiful base, and the whole support is very durable. Canvas has a texture that has to be laboriously primed in order to get it to a smooth finish and working from white sets me back a step in my painting process. I started using wood in my first show because it allowed me to work faster and now I love everything about it. It has it's own life and adds so much to a painting.

Upcoming shows?
I have a solo show next May at Ayden Gallery and will be contributing work to their various other shows throughout the year. House of RTS in Squamish is also another gallery that I show at regularly. There's the possibility of Hamburg in the spring but it's not for sure just yet.

5 year plan for your art/life?
My 5 year plan: Have my work published in magazines like Hi Fructose, Juxtapoz, Coilhouse, etc., be included in major shows in the US, Asia, and Europe, enter (and win!) the BP Portrait Contest, complete artist residencies in Barcelona and Japan, go on a yoga retreat each year, make some new friends, nurture my irreplaceable existing relationships, exercise daily, volunteer more of my time, and be a conscientious, positive citizen of Earth.

Thanks yous or shout outs?
I'd like to thank you for being such an advocate for local art! Ken Lum for showing me in his gallery, Josee St Amour for being such an exuberant supporter, Kristian Adam for sharing all of his painting knowledge, Russell Alton (Choplogik) for being such an intrinsic presence in my life, and, of course, my family for encouraging me all these years.

With the introduction of Mandy Tsung and Choplogik on wallfarmers, for the first time, we are pleased to offer you an exclusive, limited edition run of prints with the collaboration of Mandy & Chops.

Yoona 939 was a carefully selected piece, originally done on a 5x4 panel and available through Mandy's fb site. Message her for details on the original, but a limited run of 50 prints are available only through wallfarmers. Signed and numbered by both Mandy and Russell, each print is printed on archival paper for $50 each in the goods.

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