Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - Noire.bzh:

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🕯️ Can you introduce yourself?

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I’m Jo’, and I’m the creator behind Newsålem. Ever since I was a child, I’ve been passionate about world mythologies, pagan rituals, imagery of death, and all those dark, occult elements. My work is rooted in historically rich materials: forgotten engravings, sacred ornaments, and ancient mythologies. Using photomontage techniques, I reinvent these fragments of the past to offer a fresh perspective on these traditions.

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I’m not just revisiting the beliefs of bygone eras; my aim is to transform them, to breathe new and contemporary life into them. Through my work, I tell new stories while paying homage to myths and esotericism. To dive into my universe is to venture into the darkness, explore its secrets, and uncover the beauty hidden within.

By the way, Newsålem isn’t my artist name but rather the name of this universe—like a series where each composition represents an episode.

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🕯️ How would you describe your universe?

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My universe is a dark, dreamlike journey where I blend ancient myths, occult rituals, and sacred symbols to create visual narratives that are both captivating and timeless.

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🕯️ What inspires you daily?

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My main source of inspiration is music, followed by exhibitions, books about engravings, mythology, tales of death… and, of course, the work of the artists I follow on social media.

Having a good visual memory, my compositions are most likely a blend of everything I absorb over time.

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🕯️ How do you start your illustrations?

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I begin my creative process by flipping through my books, exploring old works on the BNF website, all while listening to ambient music, until the project starts taking shape in my mind. If I think it’s feasible, I sketch it quickly to avoid forgetting it.

The second step, which is the most crucial and time-consuming, involves gathering the elements for my composition. I scour the web, scan engravings from books, photograph textures… Everything comes together to form a patchwork that will serve as the foundation of my project.

The third step is the actual design: I work to unify all these carefully selected elements to create something entirely new. I reshape, redraw, add textures, play with lighting… and cross my fingers that the final result matches my initial vision.

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🕯️ What do you enjoy most about your work?

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The satisfaction of bringing an idea to life and sharing it with others.

Meeting people who are interested in my universe is also a unique experience—something I’ll miss a lot during this year-long break!

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🕯️ What projects are you currently working on?

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I’m currently working on two music-related projects: one involves the release of an album in digipack/vinyl format, and the other is a T-shirt design. An artwork I created a few months ago is set to be revealed in the coming weeks.

On a daily basis, I take on various tasks for Ak Shelter, Black Shelter, and White Shelter establishments.

Additionally, I’m the vice president of the label L’Ordalie Noire, and I’ve just finalized its visual identity and website. That was a massive undertaking, and we’re very proud of the final result!

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Thank you for this interview!