meet PAPER MODE artist Kelda Storm

What’s your favourite neighbourhood in London? And why?

That is a tough question! I grew up in London and have spent time all over the city for different reasons. Each area seems to have ups and downs when you know it well. 

I currently live in Catford. It is an underrated inner London suburb with both a creative and community feel. It is up-coming rather than on the map and a bit rough around the edges. The many green spaces are appreciated and have provided places to explore and enjoy during the various lockdowns. With the pandemic, I have missed visiting other areas in London, but recognise I am happy with my local area.

What do you think the most overrated holiday is?

Probably Disneyland, but I have never been. I've never had a desire to visit.

What Netflix show could you watch over and over again?

I hardly ever watch TV, so the idea of watching something over and over is quite alien. I feel lucky when I manage a season of anything! 

Do you have any rituals before you start working?

Being an artist is always with me but producing work has to come naturally rather than be forced. It isn't something I can switch on without the right setting. I need to be in a creative space physically and mentally without distractions so I can immerse myself in my practice. Leaving the studio with the feeling I have reached a point of a conclusion is important to me because I find it frustrating to stop working on something before it’s at the right stage to move on.

My screenprint practice comes together in the studio. I set everything up before I start. Mixing or thinning paint/ink to get the correct colour and consistency is important to facilitate my creative flow. I make several different screens so I can alternate them as I print to try out different print combinations. Overlaying or colour-shifting can dramatically change the effect of the artwork. Screenprinting is a process that is technical and creative. I use it as a fine art medium rather than for mass production. It is physical and requires thought. There is a lot of preparing and washing screens in between printing layers so it can be quite time-consuming, but I feel in my element. The in-between moments give me time for reflection on the work in progress. As the artwork emerges so does the physical effect on my body. The repeated action of producing prints, cleaning and changing screens is like a full workout after a long stretch! 

What are you looking forward to the most after the pandemic ends (hopefully soon!)?

Not reading about the Pandemic daily. It's depressing but I find that I can't help but check up on the latest developments to see where we are at. I would hope that where the pandemic has highlighted inequalities that these are addressed when the pandemic ends.

Having my art shown in more places is definitely something to work towards. A solo show is on the cards, but I am still unsure when to book one for. Should I wait until it’s less likely to be postponed, or book something anyway? To have the excitement of a booking and something to work towards me more creative and puts me in a happy place.

I am looking forward to all creative arts taking place again. It's one of the worst-hit industries of the pandemic and yet an area the UK is great at showcasing. People need a balance of creativity and culture, alongside the mundane, in whatever form it takes. 

I particularly want to see live music again. I am not sure how long it will be before bands can play in the same way they did pre-pandemic because crowd-wise because it is close-contact.  

Meeting friends with no restriction on where or how many people is something I am looking forward to. I moved home during the pandemic and haven't had housewarming, so perhaps that maybe possible post-pandemic. While I enjoy the benefits solitude brings, I am also a sociable person who values friendship.  

If I can add one more, I’d like a holiday on a sunny uncrowded beach. Where I can swim in a warm clear-blue sea and relax after this exceptional period of history.

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You can collect the pieces she's created for PAPER MODE here.

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Follow Kelda on her instagram and her website.

Artwork photographs courtesy of the artist. Portraits taken by Alina zum Hebel (website/ instagram). Photography courtesy of where’s the frame? and Alina zum Hebel.

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where’s the frame? - ‘PAPER MODE’ is a collection of 6 up and coming London based artists. The collection is available from April 21, 2021 until July 21, 2021.