Lucine Ajamian: Artist
Photo by: Emily Mahon
SUPER excited about this interview! The amazing artist Lucine Ajamian carved out time to chat with us about her amazing artistry, her journey as a creative, and the projects she’s bringing to life this year. Journey into her world with us for a moment while we explore the depths of art and self expression!
TFF Mag: Tell us about your journey to creative freedom. When did you fall in love with art and when did you consider yourself an artist?
Lucine: a) I have been creating for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I have always felt pride in my creations too, and I believe that is a powerful sentiment to my passion. I feel very lucky that my parents fostered my artistry early on.
b) The thrilling stimulation of my artistic mind is what I love most about being an artist today. The first time I called myself an artist was when I chose to turn that mental switch on. I was on the cusp of 18 years-old on the final stretch of my senior year of high school. I was suddenly winning a couple of awards for my art debut which was a thrilling experience in itself. Within days from those shows, I got suspended from school for forty-five days and I was not allowed on campus for my senior exhibitions (however, I went in disguise to one). It was such a humbling period of time and equally, a silver lining. For the first time ever, I was able to discipline myself to my art nearly 24/7. That is when the switch flipped, I began to feel the power of artistry, and proclaimed the role.
TFF: Who were some of the artists that inspired you early on?
LA: Frida Kahlo has been a constant source of inspiration for me from the beginning. That will never change and she will always have a place on my altar. On a daily, though, I was inspired by my art teachers in summer camps and in school. I was like a sponge who wanted to soak up as much information as I possibly could from them. They simply inspired me to keep going.
TFF: Tell us about some of the projects you’re working on this year.
LA: The first quarter of 2021 has been filled with the production of projects that I am really excited about. It’s looking like I’ll be cranking out the following by May 2021:
a) I’m graduating from Naropa University, receiving my Bachelors as an Interdisciplinary Major, concentrating in Visual Art, Peace Studies, and Yogic Philosophy.
b) Developing a mixed media art series titled, “Allies” (formerly known as Beastiality).
c) Writing a graduating thesis that coincides with the “Allies” series as a statement of explorative inquiry. “How does the contemporary cycle of toxic masculinity limit an individual’s birthright to sexual agency?”
d) Curating a few exhibitions: Virtual Realistically, Online Digitally (yes, there is a difference), and in person. Hop on my email list and follow me on instagram for details.
e) Continuing to scale my business, Twin Flame Productions, which is an eco-centric, gender-fluid, 1-of-1 fashion company based out of the Arts District in Los Angeles. We have a few exciting projects in the works that again, I am so looking forward to launching. Sign up for TFP’s email list and follow us on instagram to stay updated.
f) I’m also the lead inventory curator for TFP. If you are interested in becoming a distributor with us, please apply here or email me (artistempire@twinflame.productions) and we’ll get in touch.
TFF: How has the pandemic affected you as an artist?
LA: That humbling period of time that I described when I was suspended from school manifested again for me when the pandemic kicked in. It was a thick silver lining on many levels of my career. Although the pandemic itself shocked me to my core, I am very proud of the skills I developed during this time both artistically and in my entrepreneurship. I and my team at TFP have truly accomplished things that I have always dreamed of. The timing may have not gone according to the original plan. I strongly believe those initial pre-pandemic plans will circle back around when the time is right. In the meantime, I am making the most of my resources, doing my best, and trusting my art.
TFF: Tell us about the most recent project you completed and why it’s meaningful to you.
LA: Everything that I previously mentioned is not necessarily complete, they are works in progress. The benchmarks and goals that I have met along the lines of those projects, however, are equally as meaningful as the final product. Stay close!
TFF: What’s been your most memorable moment as an artist so far?
LA: I have so many enchanting memories. Some very personal and some public. Personally, I have memories of brushstrokes that have literally brought me to my knees (if you know, you know). Publicly, every event that I curate and produce brings me the utmost bliss. I love bringing a bunch of people together doing what they love and doing it well. Whether the event is centered around the work of TFP or my artistry. Anytime I am involved in a creative flow of energy with a sense of community, I’m in my element. That feeling of memory engraving applies on such a range from when I was undercover at my senior exhibition in highschool to when I experienced my first “apeshit” roar of applause for a production I facilitated. I have so many wonderful memories throughout my career that I wouldn’t trade for the world.
TFF: What’s your dream collaboration with another artist look like?
LA: a) Disclaimer: The word, “collaboration,” is weird for me. I don’t think that capitalist society uses it properly and we have been brainwashed to confuse “collaborations” with “hired artistic services.” But that is a conversation for another time.
b) In the purest sense of artistic collaboration, it would be an absolute honor to work with the artist, Miss Me. I have a few concepts filed in my mind for safekeeping. I look forward to the day we are able to touch base and surface those ideas. Stay tuned!
TFF: Last question. What is your favorite piece of art and why?
LA: One of the double-edged swords of being an artist is that we are inspired by absolutely everything and we recognize the influence of it all in our work. In this exact moment as I write, the sun reflecting on the folds of my hotel bed sheets is my favorite visual. That is how I feel about other artist’s work, too. There are so many pieces that blow my mind and it’s challenging to choose my ultimate favorite. That being said, in my bubble, my creations are fractions of my favorite works of art puzzled together. And my favorite pieces of art in my recent series, “Allies,” are titled, “Ram This” and “Mine.”
Externally, one of my previous professors at Naropa University, Kevin Sloan, is working on a series right now that I am insanely attracted to and inspired by. His use of sacred symbolism in the natural world gets me every time. I truly love everything he creates. Every piece he presents is my new favorite.
At the end of the day, when it is all said and done, though, I, as a human being, am my absolute favorite work of art. I dream of a world where everyone, no matter what they do, can find that in themselves, too.
