From TED Talks To Tokyo Light Installations: Artist Shantell Martin Has Done It All

Shantell Martin is a busy woman. In the course of just a few years the prolific installation artist has had three solo shows, performed at MoMA and PULSE Projects (among many others), appeared everywhere from Jimmy Kimmel Live to Gossip Girl, and collaborated on more works than should be humanly possible. Despite her already impressive resume, the artist, who got her start doing major light projections and live-action installations in Tokyo, is always up for taking on a new project or medium. Recently we met up with the polyglot creative to discuss how she spent her summer vacation, Hong Kong art groupies, and what she believes is the future of public art.

The Creators project: First off, what have you currently been working on?

Shantell Martin: This summer has been super busy one for me. First I released a dress and T-shirt with SUNO, a really unique NY based women label.

Below, a brief into to the collaboration:

Video courtesy of Shantell Martin. Produced by LEGS Media.

Then I created an installation at theBata Shoe Museumin Toronto:

Image courtesy of Shantell Martin

Created an installation in Lane Crawford’s Hong Kong and Beijing stores:

Photo courtesy of Lam Cheung

And had a show at the MLB Fan Cave in New York, where I showcased an animated piece on their super large screen, did some live drawing, and also created a series of hand-drawn works on New Era’s 59Fifty caps that  I then gave away to people at the opening.

In the very near future I have a few talks/drawing demonstration coming up:

TED NYC - October 8th

POPTECH - October 24th – 27th

L2 FORUM – November

Wow, you have been busy. What kind of projects are you looking to commence in the coming year? 

[I have] a few in the pipeline … Really looking forward to creating a book, a series of interactive videos and working on some large wall drawings. I’d also like to expand on my WHO ARE YOU project and work out a way to make it socially driven.

You originally started out doing large-scale light projections and multimedia shows. How did that begin?

My career as a VJ/ Visual Artist started in Tokyo around 2004/5. I drew a lot at the time with a tiny 0.05 point pen. One day I was asked by a friend who liked my drawing to perform at an event she was organizing. I said I wanted to still draw using the 0.05 pen…. One way we could do this was for me to draw under a camcorder and projector what the camera was seeing. At that first show I discovered I was a performer and really did enjoyed creating work in a super spontaneous live way. I quickly moved from pen and paper to digital (computer and drawing tablet).

This was my earlier style:

How does that work differ from what you currently do now?

I’ve gone analog! Well, it’s kind of gone full circle. I started with pen n' paper and then went digital for about 5 years. But now I’m back using pens…. my medium is everything: cars, walls, people, clothes, shoes, found objects, etc.

What made you want to do installations?

I love filling up spaces. Creating installations has that live element to it, which I enjoy as the process of creating an installation for me is public in someway.

What is your creative process like?

It’s very simple. I pick up the pen or whatever ever tool I’m using and draw… The pen knows where it’s going and I follow, the result being a combination of words faces and lines.

Having worked in the field for so long, how do you think installations, and the way both viewer and creator approach them, has changed in the last decade?

I’m happy to see a lot more interactive and immersive installations appearing that put the audience in the middle of the work, or give them some kind of input or control. I’ve always been big fan of bringing art and visuals into the foreground and giving them some way of expressing the NOW.

Who do you think, beside yourself, is really pushing the medium forward?

I really enjoy the work of people like Sougwen Chung, Max Hattler, Zach Lieberman, Kyle McDonald all of which have a strong live or interactive element to their work.

Are there any cultures you think are more embracing of public works or large scale installations?

Personally when creating installation in public for example In big western cities I’ve found that some people will be and some will not. But in places like Hong Kong for example – EVERYONE will stop, watch and cheer you on. It's really fun.

What is your dream project, if money wasn't an option?

These are just few things on my list of things to do….

*Design and build an art house and tree house

*Rap large buildings with my work

*Draw on something super large that flies

*Make a pop Top Ten song with a killer video

*Collaborate with David Shrigley

Looking around, where do you see public and multimedia installations progressing?

As we move on they will become less and less of things or spaces that we simply look at… In a way we will become a part of them or have some personal control or direction over them.

To get an even better idea of Martin's work, watch below as she prepares for her first solo show, "Continuous Line" at Black & White Gallery in Brooklyn. Shot by FlaureTV with music by MNP. 

Shantell Martin