Design Federation

We Love Lang Leav, and so can you, as long as you aren’t a teddy bear!

What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Lang Leav and I was born in a refugee camp in Thailand before moving to Melbourne til I was 5 years old. My family moved to Sydney and I’ve been based here ever since!

Where did you learn your craft?
I have been making art all my life but in the area I grew up, art was not considered feasible as a career choice. So I felt like it was a huge development for me, mentally as well as artistically when I began studying at the College of Fine Arts. It made me realise for the first time that a career in the creative industry was something I could actively pursue.

What is your artistic medium of choice? Why that medium?
I use pastels because I love the vibrancy I can achieve with them. I’d love to experiment with more mediums in the future.

Have you always been focused in this particular area?
I have always quite dimensional and have dabbled in many disciplines. I’ve designed for the web, made furniture, worked in fashion, packaging and art direction. I love the challenge of being thrown into something new.

Whose work do you relate to most? Who inspires you?
If I had to pick someone out of the hat, it would be Tim Burton. He is an amazing storyteller and his work really captures your imagination. I relate to this because I like to tell stories in my work.

What is your Favourite Tim Burton Film?
That’s a tricky one, but I would have to say Edward scissor hands

Do you feel growing up out west has hindered you in any way or made people look at your designs any differently?
I guess in general, my upbringing, has played a role in shaping the kind of work I do, because it was very strict so I would create stories through drawing and writing to escape the 4 walls. I don’t think it has made any difference in the way people to respond to my work, I think if anything it has been a source of inspiration because it is seen as a difficult path to pursue. I guess in a way I have shown that is very much possible to live your dreams no matter what background you are from.

Do you still have a teddy bear on your bed?
No I hate teddy bears

where can people buy your handywork?
www.akina.com.au

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Tags: akina, lang leav, The 13th project