We are not going to pretend as if we haven’t featured illustration like this before. It looks vaguely familiar but still manages to stand out like a shimmering black sheep in a snow white flock.
Courtesy of Cheyenne Illustration.
French illustrator, Laura Riedinger, who goes by the pseudonym of Cheyenne, is a sore thumb of sorts. Although her technique may resemble one you have seen before, it is Cheyenne’s concepts that really drives her work home. She is an expert at engaging her audience. She knows how to make us think. She wants us to finish her sentences. The most compelling aspect of Cheyenne’s work is her ability to squeeze familiarity from the abstract–transmuting the unrecognizable into the recognizable.
We had the pleasure of catching up with Cheyenne and decided to ask her a few question about a trio of illustrations we stumbled upon. I am not fluent in French but luckily the Editor at Large, Matia Guardabascio, is and she executed a great translation for readers who do not speak Français.
What is the general inspiration present in all of your work?
“My work on this series of portraits is inspired by emotions, by living emotions. That which comes from an outstanding word, from a piece of music, or a dream.”
“Mon travail sur cette série de portraits est inspiré par des sentiments, des émotions vécues. Qui proviennent ou d’un mot marquant, d’une musique, ou encore d’un rêve.”
Why did you choose to not include the faces?
“I made the choice to not include the face in order to keep its mystery, its ephemeral emotion that everyone can know and so identify with. There is a real communication with the animal who transcribes this emotion.”
“J’ai fais le choix de ne pas inclure le visage afin de garder ce mystère, ce sentiment éphémère que tout le monde peut connaitre et donc s’y identifier. Il y a une réel communication avec l’animal qui lui transcrit cette émotion.”
Does the presence of animals have a specific meaning?
“The animal, just like the color, has a specific meaning, all is linked, the meaning of the animal, the hair of the portrait et the meaning of the colors, to illustrate this general emotion.”
“L’animal tout comme la couleur a une signification spécifique, tout est lié, la signification de l’animal, les cheveux du portrait et la signification des couleurs, pour illustrer ce sentiment général.”
Courtesy of Cheyenne Illustration.
Courtesy of Cheyenne Illustration.
Written by Akeem K. Duncan.↓
Akeem K. Duncan (n.): editor in chief; despised by most of the staff.
Akeem is our founder. A writer, poet, curator and profuse sweater, he is responsible for the curatorial direction and overall voice of Quiet Lunch. The Bronx native has read at venues such as the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, KGB Bar, Lovecraft and SHAG–with works published in Palabra Luminosas and LiVE MAG13. He has also curated solo and group exhibitions at numerous galleries in Chelsea, Harlem, Bushwick and Lower Manhattan.