Today we’re chatting with Mona Wishkahi, a tape artist, designer, and art director from the UK! Mona first fell in love with tape while working on film sets. One lucky purchase later, and she never looked back! Find out more in the interview below.
Do you have a website or social media you’d like to share with our audience?
I’m still in the process of making a separate site for my tape art, but here is my main website where you can see all of my various projects: monmondesign.com
My tape art Instagram: @monmon_tapeart
My design Instagram: @monmondesign
Editor’s Note: Some of the photography featured in this blog is by photographer Nic Crilly-Hargrave, whose Instagram you can visit here.
Tell us about yourself! How did you get started working in design and art? Do you have any favorite projects?
I’m an Art Director and Production Designer for TV/Film and commercials based in London, Brixton. I am also a tape artist! I’m originally from Iran and spent most of my life in Frankfurt, Germany… yes, I speak all three languages. 🙂
I studied Visual Arts, and my thesis project was a short film about migraines (watch here) that I directed and produced. The film gained worldwide recognition and has been shown in several film festivals, nationally and internationally, as well as 500 hospitals throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria between 2010 and 2015. After graduation I started an internship for a cinema production company as a set assistant and a few years later I landed in the Art Department.
I have so many favorite projects I’ve worked on, but I guess the Summer Promo I have created for Manoto TV and the Set Design for the music show Echo are two of my top ones. Both projects can be found on my website!
How did you begin creating tape art? What sparked your interest?
I have been making art with tapes for nearly 9 years now. The idea however, started way back in 2010 – believe it or not, the film set inspired the start of my tape art!
When I was working on my first film sets, I was always amazed by the colors of the tapes the camera assistants and clappers were carrying around. I couldn’t take my eyes off of the tapes and kept thinking about making something with them.
When I moved to London in 2013 and visited Cass Art (an art supply store), I happened across a big roll of neon pink Pro® Console Tape. I immediately bought it and began experimenting. Eventually I created my first piece by mixing chalk paint and marker into the artwork – the piece is about 2m x 2m large, and hangs in my home now!
Over the years, I stopped using the chalk paint and markers and just worked with tape. I’ve produced many pieces, both small and large pieces, always working with fluorescent colored, 12mm tapes.
What is your favorite type of tape artwork to create (outdoor murals, smaller pieces, portraits, etc)?
I love to make large tape art pieces, both indoors and outdoors. I find my tape art works best on big surfaces. Hence why I always aim to create big installations.
How did you discover Pro Tapes® tape products?
Since I only work with 12mm fluorescent colored tapes and Pro Tapes® is the market leader in that regard, it was a very clear choice! My regular suppliers and I always order Pro Tapes® for my work.
Which Pro Tapes® products do you use in your tape art now? What are your favorite qualities about the tapes?
For my tape art pieces I mainly use Pro® Console or Pro® Spike in pink and yellow, and the Pro Gaff® cloth tape in black. But sometimes I like to mix Pro Gaff® in orange and blue into my artwork as well.
(Editor’s Note: Most visual artists can find the console tape Mona is referring to as Pro® Artist Tape.)
If someone has never used tape to create art, what advice would you have for them?
As an artist, you have to find your “tool” to express yourself and your art. I did find my art tool in tapes and I would have never been able to call myself a Tape artist if I had not tried it.
I always say just do it! Just try it! What is there to lose and what can happen? Worst case scenario, you find yourself not liking it, but at least you can say you have tried it.
And when I started, I didn’t know any tape artists, but through social media I discovered that people like me are actually part of a small (but growing!) community. There are such amazing tape artists out there, and I’m happy to be a part of it.
