There are moments in my endless hours of browsing the web, digging for my next rabbit hole, when I stop and find something a little bit magical– something that opens that door to Narnia that I’m forever searching for, if only for a few seconds. Miena’s moving illustrations (literally and figuratively moving) are one of those findings. I found her on Tumblr, and immediately found myself in a trance, wanting to step inside her animated world (zoom in).
“I’m inspired by the little things, the little nooks and crannies of the bigger picture that we tend to miss in our lives,” Miena told me over email. “100% of the rooms in my art are purely from my imagination (although I do hope and wish deeply in my heart that rooms like those do exist somewhere)”. We share the same hope.
I often wonder about the limitations of GIF art that technically, can only be enjoyed from a computer screen. Miena tells me I’m not the only one. “Several people have told me that they too want those moving artworks at their homes, but unfortunately, I haven’t really figured out how to make that idea come to life (unless someone is able to create such prints/posters that can move). I’ve put a lot of work in making my artworks loop smoothly back to square one, and sometimes this I would say would be the hardest step in my art process”.
“I used to (and currently sometimes do) tell and explain that my art relishes at the idea of ‘breathlessness’, to be able to take your mind off of things, relax, find peace, etc. Ultimately, I wanted those who have seen my art to feel those things”.
I suppose that’s how we should enjoy Miena’s art for now. As a much needed little corner of the internet where you can just find a moment’s piece in all that noise.
“My biggest message from my art that I want to convey is that everyone has their own journey, their own trials, obstacles, hardships, as well as milestones, achievements and successes. In relation to my art, I hope that it can somehow give strength to some, I hope that my art can soothe hearts at their sad times, but I also hope that my art can be a safe haven, a retreat, an escape, and I too hope my art can simply be a source of inspiration or mere happiness.”
