This Delayed World Has Synchronized With My Rhythm
“I'm an overactive person mentally, and for me, everything is wonderful,” Marta Blue explains her approach to research and the final stage of creation, the way the surroundings might impact her work, initially passing through a personal prism of preferences. Marta has an established aesthetics, which she proves as possible to be present in her personal projects extending to commissioned work.
Cinematography and the Stanislavski Technique have an extensive presence in the approach Marta has developed working on set, driving towards achieving desired emotions, and creating a suitable background for the narrative to unfold. Her work is a constant research on various topics filtered by her interest in memories, their effect on the human, and in “esotericism and magic.”
Marta Blue is a photographer and director who started her career in an advertising agency working as an Art Director after graduating from IED in Milan. Marta exhibited in numerous galleries in Shanghai, Paris, Switzerland, with her recent solo exhibition this year, which took place at Gallery of Modern Art in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Marta worked with clients such as Google, Airbnb China, Elle Decoration China, and many others. In this interview, we speak with Marta about her decision to leave her job in the advertising agency to follow her passion and start a new career as a freelance photographer, gradually building her presence and reputation.
‘Milan is a city on the move, and that always manages to surprise you. It's not just business and busy life: it's beauty, art, food, design, and a lot of cultures.’
Milan
How would you describe Milan? What are some of your favorite places in the city?
Milan is a city on the move, and that always manages to surprise you. It's not just business and busy life: it's beauty, art, food, design, and a lot of cultures. Among my favorite places in Milan, there is, certainly Antichi Vizi, an antiques and taxidermy shop; Brera, a botanical garden; the Libreria Malavasi, a bookshop with many ancient and rare books; the Monumental Cemetery; and the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, a historic home-museum of the family with art dating to the late 1800s. These are places, rich in history, where I like to go often, isolate myself from the chaos of the city, and regenerate my mind.
‘Mentally, and for me, everything is wonderful. I can find inspiration in eating a plate of pasta or watching sunset.’
Research & Projects
Let’s speak about your approach to new projects and the development of your ideas towards their visualization. How long can a research phase take you to get into the project?
It's a creative process that varies according to production. If I have to develop a commissioned project, in general, the times are decidedly very tight. If I'm working with a curator or a gallery owner, the times will certainly expand according to my priorities.
In what way is the final product different from the concept stage?
Often I can't totally set my style on a commissioned job, therefore, the result may be different from the concept. I would say that basically, anyone commissioning me a job is looking for that precise style. The research phase moves based on inspiration. I'm an overactive person mentally, and for me, everything is wonderful. I can find inspiration in eating a plate of pasta or watching sunset.
‘For a long time, I had two jobs: I worked in the agency as an Art Director, and I worked as a freelance photographer during my free time.’
Advertising
You worked in advertising before deciding to switch to photography. Tell about this decision to change your profession. What was the hardest part of becoming a freelancer?
I'll be honest, the most difficult part of leaving my job in the agency was figuring out how to support myself financially without having a slightest idea of what would happen in the future. Nobody would trust me without the experience of working as a photographer. So for a long time, I had two jobs: I worked in the agency as an Art Director, and I worked as a freelance photographer during my free time. I tried to create a career as a photographer and artist while also having a financial base that allowed me to maintain myself during that transition period.
‘The Shining is an iconic film, and I look at David Lynch and Sofia Coppola, my absolute favorite directors, in an almost maniacal way.’
Cinema
You say, in several places online, that you love cinema, which has an impact on your work. Who are your favorite film directors?
Cinema has always been my first inspiration. When I watch a film, I don't just observe or try to imitate; I try to identify myself by feeling real emotions. So when I look for new inspiration in cinema, I try to leave control by giving more space to instinct and imagination through emotions, exactly as actors do with the Stanislavski Technique. This is the intention behind my photographs, to make people believe that it's a real situation even when it's not.
Which film is the most iconic for you?
I would say The Shining is an iconic film, and I look at David Lynch and Sofia Coppola, my absolute favorite directors, in an almost maniacal way.
LensCulture
Your work was selected in the Jurors’ pick of LensCulture in 2018. Roy Kahmann, the Juror who selected this submission, explained that “Her work appealed to me because it holds one of the most important features of great photography: it makes me ask many questions.” Let’s discuss your perception of the topic you photograph and the way you create a short story.
I have mentioned the Stanislavski Technique. This is exactly what I try to do. Basically, I propose a photograph that stimulates the observer to a series of sensations, one of which is, certainly, curiosity. Cinematic photography tells a story, but photography also gives you an opportunity to create a narrative with a single image.
Another aspect that I try to recreate is that of a déjà-vu. I try to create images that can leverage memories. It's no coincidence that my favorite artists, photographers, painters, and directors are my favorites precisely because their work has triggered a memory in my head, a memory that goes directly to a specific emotion, an intimate emotion, that I almost certainly have already experienced. And a memory, somehow, that is a positive or a negative memory, always brings you emotions.
‘I have some very dark style trends, I like dark colors, and I'm very interested in esotericism and magic. This is one of my angles, which practically nobody likes, and it's reflected in my ideas and my works.’
Commercial Projects
You worked with a big list of clients including Google, Airbnb China, Elle Decoration China, and many others. How do you keep your unique perspective and vision when working on commercial projects?
One trick that I'm using, if I can call it that, is mixing personal works with commissioned ones on my website. By avoiding a forced selection, you have an overall perception that doesn't distract you. So, if you want to commission a job from me, you do it consciously, exclusively for what you see. Some works are not presented on my site for this reason, because they visually stray too far from the perception of uniqueness that I offer.
Where is the balance?
I have some very dark style trends, I like dark colors, and I'm very interested in esotericism and magic. This is one of my angles, which practically nobody likes, and it's reflected in my ideas and my works. But despite that, I found a way to insert some of these elements also in commercial projects. In general, clients who commission me a job do that because they want exactly this type of creativity. Obviously, it's not always an easy case, but when it happens, it's very rewarding.
Upcoming Projects
What are your plans for this year? What are you working on right now?
As to my personal projects, I'm currently working on a new photographic series 'Ultraviolet' that I hope to be able to present at Jimei x Arles in the Photo Festival in Shanghai next year. Also, I want to continue the production of a short film that I had to pause during the period of the pandemic.
I tend not to make many plans because in my life things change course very quickly. However, I would like to spend time in another city, meet new people, discover new places, and increase my visual and emotional cultural perspective.
