Artist Bio
Margaux Bigou was born in New Caledonia and draws on her island origins as she creates her illustrations. She seeks out her creatures hiding under shells, buried in warm sand, or lying in the depths of the sea.
Her slippery and melancholic monsters can’t stand the heat and take refuge in experimental editions that blend screen-printing, Riso printing, and patience.
She lives now in Tahiti, French Polynesia and graduated from ENSAD Paris. She travels around the world to show her last zines (Comic Art Brooklyn, Picnic Festival Shanghai, Millionaires Club Leipzig, Vendetta Marseille…)
She is also part of the collective Riso-sur-Mer.
Who are your biggest artistic influences? Are there any specific artists whose work inspires you?
I love reading comics and graphic novels, like Julie Doucet, Robert Crumb, and Simon Hanselman. Tattoo artists and flash tattoos also inspired me. I love listening to music while I draw, and my favourite movie makers are Jodorowsky and Taika Waititi.
How do you come up with new ideas and inspiration for your artwork?
I liked to think about a mixed origin dragon from another reality for the artwork I did. I also feel very inspired by my French / Asian / Islander roots.
What is your favourite medium and why?
I like to draw with pencils to do gradients, but I also like bold lines with markers. I use a Risograph machine to print my work. I appreciate seeing handmade gradients printed with the Riso grainy touch. I usually love to experiment with multiple mediums (wet and dry, pencils and brushes) in my sketchbooks.
What does your typical work day look like?
In Tahiti, where I live, everybody wakes up early as the days are shorter. So I wake up at 7 am, and even if I work from home, I like to get dressed and prepared; it's my self-care moment. Then I do my mail, and I start to draw. I use my I-calendar to have a precise schedule of my priorities. For lunch, I love to cook and follow recipes. That gives me fresh air because I don't have to create something. Then I usually take a nap and draw, or print until 8-10 pm, depending on my work deadlines.
What advice would you give to your younger self starting out as an artist?
Keep going. It will be okay!!!