LA Based Artists Talk Creative Rebirth
August 24th 2024
Isabel Lotus and Britney Nguyen
What does it mean to create without fear? How do we cultivate our individuality when it often feels as though conformity is rewarded?
These are some of the challenges that plague those pursuing creative careers today. KIVE’s Rebirth: Self Exploration Lab, provides a space for individuals to explore these questions, inviting creatives and community members alike to reflect on their experiences and answer meaningful questions about their identities. Rebirth is more than a fresh start.
Rebirth is a conscious act of transformation that involves introspection, shedding old layers, and a relentless desire to grow. It's not just about hitting the reset button; it's about understanding why growth requires change and embracing the discomfort that often comes with it.
In anticipation of the upcoming KIVE event, "Rebirth: Self-Exploration Lab," we asked three of the event's featured artists—Devin, Tiffany, and Savvy—to talk about their creative journeys and the theme of rebirth. Through a short series of thought-provoking questions, these three artists share their insights on growth, transformation, and the powerful role of art in navigating life's cycles of renewal. By delving into the creative practices that have sparked evolution in these young LA artists, we aim to cultivate a community where creativity and shared experiences pave the way for growth.
Through their diverse experiences and creative expressions, Devin, Tiffany, and Savvy illustrate that rebirth is not just about starting over but about embracing change and using it as a catalyst for personal and artistic growth. Their stories remind us that transformation, though often challenging, is an essential part of the creative journey—and it’s a journey you, too, can embark on. With courage, introspection, and a willingness to adapt, anyone can embrace their own creative rebirth.
Devin Desouza
Introduce yourself – What’s your name, where are you from, and what creative mediums do you work with? Share a bit about how your journey in art began.
“My name is Devin Rodriguez, formally known as Devin Desouza. I’m a director from Arlington Texas. I work within several creative mediums: directing, acting & photography. I started doing videography around 19/20 years old I used to go to concerts and record and interview fans/artists. From there covid happened completely ending that phase. I picked up photography during isolation and found success really early on. From there I dropped out of college and moved to California to pursue my dreams as an artist. As photography took off I made it an emphasis to be multifaceted and really made my presence felt in the art world as a director. Over the past few years I’ve hosted multiple short film premiere events showcasing different projects to where now I feel I’ve built a nice community and name for myself.”
The concept of Rebirth emphasizes growth through lived experiences and self-reflection. Has there been a pivotal experience in your journey as an artist that led to your personal growth? How did it impact your creative process?
“I think grief in general has been a pivotal experience in my life that has led to my personal growth. Losing people in your life, moving around a lot, being homeless at times. All of these things molded me into who I am today. I feel a lot more adaptable & grateful for the things I possess. I think it’s impacted my process because now I’m in a much better place mentally. It feels good to pull from past experiences/feelings in a better headspace to create something that people can connect with. Art imitates life, we need to have our human experience to create something authentic and refreshing.”
If your current body of work could give advice to your past self, what would it say about embracing change and renewal? What advice would you give to someone navigating their own creative rebirth?
“The best piece of advice I would give my past self is that change is constant with time. Accept parts of yourself that you don’t like, that’s the first step towards growth. Advice I would give someone else navigating their own rebirth is that we are all on our own timeline. Be kind to yourself.”
Savanna Dohler
Introduce yourself – What’s your name, where are you from, and what creative mediums do you work with? Share a bit about how your journey in art began.
“Hey! My name is Savanna Dohler and I go by Savvyd, I’m from Nashville Tennessee currently living in Los Angeles and work with acrylic and oil paint (leaning more towards oil for my newer works). I started doing art as a young kid sewing little plush toy characters and drawing eyeballs. Later in middle and high school I got into photography, drawing and sculpting and then started painting right before Covid. I’ve always had a fascination with eyeballs and decay and Ugly Dolls and Domo and now I make things I would have wanted in my room as a kid or things that would have creeped the shit out of me.”
The concept of Rebirth emphasises growth through lived experiences and self-reflection. Has there been a pivotal experience in your journey as an artist that led to your personal growth? How did it impact your creative process?
“There’s a part of me that loves to be in pain. Rebirth is pain and although it isn’t an experience I seek it’s one I embrace when life decides to present it to me. A few months ago, I was randomly attacked on the street which lead to a period of deep stress and anxiety. Art heals me, it makes me feel powerful and alive and I wouldn’t change anything if I had the choice. Art has taught me that consistency is key. Life informs my art and art my life - the ole snake eating its tail.”
If your current body of work could give advice to your past self, what would it say about embracing change and renewal? What advice would you give to someone navigating their own creative rebirth?
“Put the paint on the canvas, it’s not that serious - you can always paint over it. And if you can’t, get a new canvas.”
Tiffany Wei
“Hello! My name is Tiffany Wei, and I am a Chinese-American interdisciplinary artist currently based in Los Angeles. While much of my creative work centers on digital illustration, I also enjoy delving into hands-on disciplines like ceramics and embroidery. As a child, I was often captivated by mythology and the mysteries of the unknown—concepts that have since become a core part of my artistic inspiration across various mediums.”
Introduce yourself – What’s your name, where are you from, and what creative mediums do you work with? Share a bit about how your journey in art began.
The concept of Rebirth emphasises growth through lived experiences and self-reflection. Has there been a pivotal experience in your journey as an artist that led to your personal growth? How did it impact your creative process?
“At first, I believed that illustration was the only way to express my ideas. However, as I ventured into more sculptural and tactile projects, I discovered new avenues for creative expression. I’ve always been interested in making clothing, but without formal training in sewing or garment construction, I turned to unconventional materials like clay or a 3D pen to craft wearable art. Today, I feel that combining multiple techniques enables me to better convey the narratives I want to share. This approach allows me to bring the ethereal figures that once existed only in two-dimensional illustrations into the physical world.”
If your current body of work could give advice to your past self, what would it say about embracing change and renewal? What advice would you give to someone navigating their own creative rebirth?
“If my current body of work could offer advice to my past self, it would be to embrace change. Change can be unfamiliar and intimidating, but it often provides the push needed to surpass limits and inspire experimentation. The most rewarding aspect of being a creative lies in the joy of the journey itself, despite the challenges encountered along the way. It’s in those moments of learning something new, solving problems, and thinking outside the box that growth occurs. When I complete a project, I enjoy reflecting on the path taken to achieve the final result. My creative process is a means of personal development, and I firmly believe that by experimenting with new techniques and taking artistic risks, I can continue to evolve.”