Monica Popa-Tolontan was born and raised in Vaslui, Romania. I met her for the first time on July 2008, during a trip to the UK, and we've become friends since then, sharing the same interests in Arts. Now she lives in London, studying Management & Marketing while living her passion: photography. I support her and like her work so much that I couldn't not share her talent with you. She's great. I'm sure you'll love her photographs.
"Each photograph is different in each other's eyes. Mainly in what we see we project our obsessions."
M: Give me a Cliffs Notes version of you as an artist:
Few years after the communism went down, 1992 marked the birth of Monica. Name with Greek influence meaning lonely. She presented a high interest in arts but not as strong as in 2008 when she joined the Photography Club at her high school. There she developed her interest in digital photography and until now she tried her best to become the best.
M: Top 5 influences, GO!
M: Give me a Cliffs Notes version of you as an artist:
Few years after the communism went down, 1992 marked the birth of Monica. Name with Greek influence meaning lonely. She presented a high interest in arts but not as strong as in 2008 when she joined the Photography Club at her high school. There she developed her interest in digital photography and until now she tried her best to become the best.
M: Top 5 influences, GO!
I don’t really have separate or "top 5" influences. I find my influences all around me, it could be in friends, books, strangers, a bar, an old photograph, etc.
M: One picture you took. The story behind it:
I took this picture whilst I was visiting Israel, and we just came out of this monastery, and because it was so hard for some old ladies to get there, we were actually talking about how hard it is for old people to get to a place where they can get peace. And instantly I saw this old man going up this terrible hill, dressed very poorly and very sick. And I thought this could turn out as a very powerful picture, and it did (at least I think so).
M: This picture hold such emotions! Powerful, indeed. Now, answer your first thought, free association to these words :
Coffee — is my guilty pleasure, for sure.
Poppy — It reminds me of the yellow fields in the summer in my country, and from spot to spot there are red poppies filling the fields, like blood.
Eye — Eyes are one of my favorite body parts, they can tell the truth even when the mouth lies.
Sky — The sky is my little refuge when I want to dream all day long.
Obsession — Powerful word, that everyone is afraid to share with the others. Their obsessions are taboos sometimes, but I believe we should share our obsessions more.
Poppy — It reminds me of the yellow fields in the summer in my country, and from spot to spot there are red poppies filling the fields, like blood.
Eye — Eyes are one of my favorite body parts, they can tell the truth even when the mouth lies.
Sky — The sky is my little refuge when I want to dream all day long.
Obsession — Powerful word, that everyone is afraid to share with the others. Their obsessions are taboos sometimes, but I believe we should share our obsessions more.
M: What's your favorite place?
Camden Town in London. It’s a pretty free place and anyone there is an artist. You can get a lot of muse there and the food is absolutely amazing.
7. Your latest musical obsession:
Lately I have been listening a lot to Birdy but also Beach House Terrazza radio, which is a chill-out-funky combinations of great vocals, great chill-out tunes and summer vibe.
M: I love Birdy! Recommend one movie:
I have two movies that marked me a lot. The first one is Chaotic Ana, a Spanish movie which, to be honest, I cannot describe because I think everyone should watch it and interpret in their own way. The second is Powder Blue, a drama, but also a very artistic movie —from the cinematography point of view.
M: What’s on your nightstand right now?
(smile) Right now I don’t have a nightstand. But it will definitely be my lucky rings and Paulo Coelho’s book Aleph.
M: Motto to live by:
Addicted to the moment. Simple but there is a lot of meaning behind it.
M: If you could invite one artist to a tea party, who would he/she be (living or dead)?
Hard question, but I will probably choose Dali. He has a wicked side and I would have loved to have a conversation about art and his view on life.
M: I know you're working on a new project called «1001 states of mind». Tell me more about it :
This project is my latest big challenge because I only have a year to photograph 1001 portraits with different stories and emotions behind them. It all started from my little obsession with facial expressions and how people express their feelings (any kind) in general. I believe that is a very powerful project considering that each model has to express something that had an impact on their lives hence, a sad emotion or something that is joyful or anything that they want. Also the time limit is quite small considering I will be busy with other stuff but I am willing to try. So far I only have a few portraits with a line to accompany the photograph (usually from songs, or own reflections) but what the person transmits could defer in people’s perceptions. That’s why I didn’t want to put an emotion, and I chose a phrase or a few words. At the end of the day Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
M: Include a photo of a Self-Portrait (any materials acceptable):
M: Love is better than any drug.
Check out more from Monica:
Love,
XO
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