Meet Gique Sára J. Molčan

Vancouver, British Columbia-Based Artist

Tell us about your background & how it led you to where you are today.

"During my BFA at Emily Carr University of Art & Design, I was challenged to address my fascination with painting the human form. I found this difficult as I have always communicated better through images than text, which is ironic given I also have a degree in English literature. I slowly began to make a connection between my paintings and the formation of identity. Since research is a strong skill for me, I dove headfirst into scientific journals trying to find a more substantial link. I was pulled into studies regarding the brain, memory, dreams, and identity.

Our brains have the ability to rewrite our personal histories, a notion I found enthralling. We are also easily fooled - a dream about day-to-day life can easily be mistaken for a memory. These 'false memories' come to light when an event causes a sudden realization. This can be compared to being plunged into an ice bath. I found that the best way to replicate familiarity and strangeness in my work was through colour and subject matter. Colours that are familiar and welcoming, but subject matter that deals with something darker. I often deal with relationships, trauma, and mental illness in my work. I try to emphasize this in my paintings by playing with the idea of muddled psychology with the hint of facial features visible beneath clouds of colour and fervent brushstrokes."

What keeps you passionate about science and art?

"To keep myself passionate, I read Psychology Today, Scientific American, and Scientific American Mind among my usual art journals. The brain is ever changing, and there's always another study that helps inform my work. Recently, there was a study on 'deleting' your own memories. The potential ways that would change your identity is astronomical. I'm also always on the look for unique pigments and paints so I can create new (to me) interesting colours. I recently had the pleasure of visiting KAMA Pigments in Montréal and picking up some unique oil colours. They also make phosphorescent pigments which I'm dying to try, but have yet to come up with a way to use them in my work. The idea of after images intrigues me, so perhaps there's something there."

What does being a gique mean to you?

"For me, being a gique means sharing my passion in interesting ways. Since colour is such a strong focus in my paintings, I have often received queries about the colours I use. I took that as opportunity to share something I am truly passionate about with a wider audience. Unexpectedly, it complemented my art practice more than I could ever dream of. As you now know, my work is tangled up with neuroscience and psychology. My paint mixes allow me to showcase the science of colour mixing, as well as create a solace to those with mental illnesses or those who need to cope with anxiety - something I was unaware of at the time, but hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it? Since mental health still carries a heavy stigma in society, I am happy to see that I can create a dialogue about it through my paint mixing. As for the science behind the colours themselves, it all comes from years upon years of colour theory and a thorough understanding of the colour wheel. Understanding where a pigment lands on the colour wheel will let you know how it will react when mixed with another. It's colour chemistry."

Any words of wisdom?

"I have found that it's good to have a belief in what you do. For me, I was often shot down for painting the human form. I can assure you, I had a number of critiques that left me in tears in the bathroom. I'm not superhuman, and those moments certainly felt soul-crushing at the time. I had (and have) a strong support system that helped me get back up and keep making work. I realize now that those moments pushed me to be the artist I am today. Without that push, I never would have kept painting and researching, nor would I have discovered the link between my work and science. Find what you love and share it with the world. There is a natural progression when you work hard that will help you hone you ideas."