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Malika Favre, For Your Eyes Only
When we set eyes on the creations of Malika Favre, it’s as if our entire imagination had been seized by a spiral of colours and patterns. Clear flat tints, asserted like an encounter between Pop Art and Op Art, two movements that evoke the sixties. A sort of time machine made of lines and counter-forms where simplicity reigns supreme. This instantly recognisable style has enabled Malika to rise to the ranks of the most sought-after visual artists of the day. To her credit: campaigns for some of the biggest brands but also – and above all – covers for the highly respected The New Yorker magazine_._ A dream that became a reality for this Parisian exile around ten years ago in London. But she didn’t actually choose this city. Her time at university ended, an internship came up and the exuberant and creative aspect of life in the British capital were what swung it. Having been seduced by the city’s charms, Malika made the most of her freedom. An attitude that she will never be without. Without really thinking about it, the illustrator was awarded one contract after another. She travelled far and wide and often. From one port of call to another, the collaborations came thick and fast and her world expanded. Driven by a personal desire to succeed, Malika gradually saw her plans come together. While we were with her, she told us about some of them, with a smile on her face. A possible future installation in Barcelona, an exhibition inspired by the Crazy Horse and its graphic lighting effects, and also a new collaboration with the designer Alice Balas. Encounter.
Location
Londres
Author
Caroline Balvay
Photographer
Constance Gennari
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TSF
Malika, could you introduce yourself, please?
Malika
I’m a French illustrator based in London and I’m nearly 35.
TSF
How long have you lived in London?
Malika
I arrived in London 13 years ago on a whim and with the idea of spending just one year here. Like many people, I got caught up in the energy of the city and its vibrant creative scene. London is a city that is both very hard but also very welcoming. I soon felt right at home here.
TSF
What was your background?
Malika
I grew up in the Paris suburbs. After studying science and a brief course in Higher Maths, I finally got started in applied arts. I’ve been into drawing since I was very young with my mother who’s an artist herself, but it wasn’t until much later that I realised that I could make it my profession. At 19, I went to Olivier de Serres art school and graduated three years later with a BTS in graphic design and a longing for adventure. I found an internship at Airside, a small but very creative London studio. Five years later, I decided to go it alone and start working as an independent illustrator. That was seven years ago now.
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TSF
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Malika
From everyday life and the people around me, objects, fashion and travel above all. I now have the luxury of being able to spend half the year travelling and the other half drawing.
TSF
Which are your favourite colours to work with?
Malika
Klein blue, blood red and deep black. No contest.
TSF
How would you define your artistic style?
Malika
Pop, minimalist, colourful and sexy. I seek to reduce the lines and colours in my work as far as possible. I’m fascinated by simplicity, the plays on form and counterform.
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I seek to reduce the lines and colours in my work as far as possible. I'm fascinated by simplicity, the plays on form and counterform.
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TSF
Who do you dream of working with?
Malika
I always dreamed of doing the cover of The New Yorker. Now I’ve done that! But generally speaking, I stopped thinking about dream clients some time ago after I realised that the most important thing is people and human relationships, not the brands that they represent. My aim today is to work as much as possible on my personal projects and exhibitions.
TSF
Is there an artist who made you want to take up this profession?
Malika
There isn’t really a particular artist who made me want to take up this profession, but my family had lots of influence on me as a child. They taught me that real wealth was freedom. Freedom to do as you please, to travel, to change your life, your city and above all to choose a profession that you love.
TSF
What are your plans for the future?
Malika
I’ve just opened an exhibition in London inspired by the Crazy Horse and its plays on hyper-graphic light. The ideal for 2018 would be to travel to Paris and invite all the dancers at the Crazy Horse to it. It would also be my first exhibition in the city where I was born. In parallel, I’m also working on a collaboration with Alice Balas that we’ll be launching in early 2018. And lastly, I’m planning to spend a few months in Barcelona to see if I could be happy there. It’s time that I went to work in the sun on a more permanent basis!
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