Kira Sheker was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She traveled a lot and lived in many places, among which there’s South Korea. She works as a teacher, artist and book writer. Her photos and drawings have some highly evocative power attached: seeming like liveful portraits in where everyone can find a piece of identification and belonging.
:: Why and when did you started Labyrinthine Nature? I began Labyrinthine Nature in fall of 2008, while I was working as an English teacher. At the time, I’d been a steady dabbler in photography for two years and had been pretty much living on Flickr. Because my contacts had been growing and had been getting a lot of positive feedback for my photos, I thought I’d try my hand at selling them. After a while, I began writing a children’s book that I also wanted to illustrate, so my photography took a bit of a back burner while I honed my skills in drawing. My shop is mostly photography still, but I’ve been putting some other artworks in there as well.
© Kira Sheker
:: Where do you get your inspiration from? I find inspiration in music, books, films, dreams, nature, even a random phrase or bit of conversation that can be found anywhere. I like to write as well and love telling stories, and interestingly, even whether it’s a photo or a drawing, I still tend to want to tell a story. Sometimes I feel a little dry and lackluster when it comes to ideas, so I merely do something else (like clean and redecorate!), but I’ve noticed that searching out other artists really helps if I’m in a dry spot.
© Kira Sheker
:: Who is your ideal buyer? I think this is a trick question; everyone’s an ideal buyer! However, when I can actually establish a connection with someone, rather than it being a faceless, nameless interaction, it’s especially rewarding.
© Kira Sheker
:: What’s your favorite NYC movie and what your NYC novel? My favorite novel set in New York would be A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. As for films, there have been so many films to take place in NYC since the earliest with The Thieving Hand back in the early 1900s. My list runs between Rear Window, Annie Hall, Arsenic and Old Lace, Rosemary’s Baby, The Apartment.. I could actually go on more as there are so many great NYC movies… I do, however, love the way Woody Allen portrays New York and how he simultaneously romanticizes it and satirizes it.
© Kira Sheker
:: Do you think New York can still be considered the place-to-be for young creatives? I do agree with that, but I also think that New York isn’t alone in this. However, New York is certainly a place where you can be anyone on any given day. It opens up possibilities that you perhaps wouldn’t get in a smaller, less forgiving city. You’re allowed to be crazy in New York!
© Kira Sheker
:: Where do you shop in NYC? I shop everywhere, but I tend to avoid department stores and chains. I’m more of a musty bookstore, vintage shop and flea market kind of gal, and there’s something to be found in all areas of the city. You actually just have to walk around and let New York work its magic…
© Kira Sheker
:: If I say Italy, you say…? I say bicycle! (…and art! Shoes! Food!)
I traveled through Europe by bicycle for half a year and spent a little time in Italy. Unfortunately, we only saw the northern portion and headed to Greece soon after, but next time I’d love to spend more time exploring the country. I’d love to visit Florence, Rome, and some of the smaller towns for starters. Sicily, too, is on my top priority list of places I want to go soon.
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