Bio
Iori Matsushima is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Born and raised in Gunma, Japan, she moved to Toronto for university. She majors in studio art at the University of Toronto, with minors in computer science and statistics.
She works with various media, from 2D to 3D, but the main focus of her artwork is video and animation. In recent years, she has become obsessed with video projections, exploring digital media and the principles of light, often through the creation of interactive installations and performance art.
Japanese popular culture is the core source of inspiration for her work. Having a background in computer science and statistics, she also likes to explore themes relating to information and technology.
Questionaire
Why did you get involved in this project?
I participated in this project because this blind video production really sounded interesting and I wanted to see how it will work out.
Did the one week turn-around for the work help or hinder your creativity?
Personally, I found it helpful as I believe that limitations help us become more creative.
How did you feel about working on a project where you didn’t know who you were collaborating with?
It was the most fun part of the project! I enjoyed the moment of checking the credits to find out who I was distantly working with. Also, it was a great opportunity to work with someone outside school.
Has being involved in the project changed your thoughts on creativity?
This project gave me a chance to rethink creativity. When I received the words or video, I first thought of which direction they wanted me to take and then enjoyed “the twist” to be “creative”. For me, being creative almost meant betraying what I perceived to be their expectations, but then I began to think, “what if my guess is wrong?” Since each of us see things differently, likewise what we assess as “creative” is also different. That being said, my “creative” attempt can be total chaos to someone or exactly as expected for others. Anyways, it helped me become more conscious of other people’s POV.
If you worked on several videos, what kept you coming back for more and how many did you do?
I kept coming back so that I can work on all four of the production phases, so I worked on 4 videos.