Johanna Tagada (22) is a textile / pattern designer and artist working across painting, drawing, photography, and writing. Also, she is the woman behind the blog Bonjour Johanna and the related online shop Supermarket.
Johanna has French, Caribbean, Algerian and Jewish roots but spends
most of her days in her current hometown, Berlin. This declared life
enthusiast loves her camera, her friends, the internet, bookstores
and travelling.
You studied in Mulhouse, then moved to Zürich, settled in Berlin and now you’re living in between Berlin and Paris. Why is that?
During my studies Fine Arts & Textile Design in France I already
tried to travel as much as possible. I had no money but made it to
Canada though. At that time, I realised I love the challenge of going to
a place where you know no one or almost no one, learn a new language
and make new friends. It appeared to be so exciting and inspiring to me.
From that point it’s something I kept doing. I went to Zürich for ten
months and then to Berlin, where I live almost two years now. Due to
private and professional reasons I have been living in between Berlin
and Paris for the past six months. I’m working on a project that’s going
on between the two cities and which will hopefully be introduced before
the end of the summer. It’s kind of exciting to be in between cities.
The mindset is really different in Paris and Berlin, the attitude of the
people too, and of course the speed. Paris quickly makes me tired while
Berlin gives me energy.
How would you describe your work?
My work is often semi-autobiographical. I would use the adjective intimate
at first. Softly colourful when talking about my paintings, but in
general tender, delicate, playful and sometimes sadly ironic too. Others
often refer to it as poetic and use the word dreamy when mentioning the details.
Does your work mirror your personality?
I guess the extremely sensible part of me. In life I often appear to be really self-confident and strong (well maybe not 100% when I speak German),
and probably don’t show how I truly feel. But in my artwork I’m not
embarrassed to tell about my love or how much I’m actually hurt by
someone.
Do your photographs influence your illustrations, or vice versa?
Of course! My analog photographs are an open diary, it’s actually an
ongoing project named ‘Analog Diary’. Some of them are visible online,
others only in printed publications. Some are exclusively reserved for a
bigger project. As my work is strongly influenced by my daily life, my
photographs are a huge inspiration for my paintings, drawings, writings
and zines. But I also find inspiration in things from our common past,
like folklore art.
What kind of subjects float your photographic boat?
All the things that are part of my daily life and that have a strong
impact on me. Like my friends, simple moments like reading a book or
having lunch. Of course when photographing I think about the colours,
the frame, as I do when painting. I also try to transmit the feeling I
had at that moment and the beauty saw in it.
Why do you love what you do?
I believe you love someone or something for two possible reasons.
Either the quality this person or thing has, or because it makes you
incredibly happy. When you love for both reasons, it’s almost a kind of
ultimate love and that is definitely the case for what I do.
Do you ever get bored of your work?
Yes! That’s what makes me want to create new pieces, better ones.
But not bored in a way that I want to get rid of my works or don’t like
them anymore.
What motivates you to get out of bed each day and design?
I’m not thinking “wake up to create”. I just wake up to live,
discover and learn new things. I’m always so excited about all there is
to do in life. And all I experience every day, often leads to creation
which is indeed great!
Talk us through an average day,
There is no average day. This is so exciting! Of course a lot of
activities are the same every day (like photographing, writing e-mails,
reading, meeting my friends…), but there isn’t a routine. When I’m not
making art or photographs, I love to cook or go out and discover a new
restaurant or café. I also love to watch movies, read books, listen to
music, travel and talk with my friends for hours.
If you could have a drink with any art person, who would it be and why?
That’s a really hard one! The first two that came to my mind are both inspirations to me. The first is
Kajii Motojirō. I love his work, short but incredibly poetic. The second one is
Kakuzo Okakura, the life he had and the way he could adapt, understand and open his mind at that time will never stop to inspire me as well.
