GUAP Interviews: Multi-Hyphenate London Artist, Destinie Paige, For The Isolation Edition [@onlydestt]

Over the last few months, the Covid:19 lockdown has affected the lives of millions of people all over the country. However, in the midst of the fear and confusion, came an army of young creatives who came to entertain, inspire, and motivate the masses. This cover is called the ‘Isolation Issue’ because it was created in the thick of the Covid:19 lockdown. We worked with talented photographers like Destinie Paige to shoot individuals via face-time and had the opportunity, to speak to them about the impacts of Covid:19 on their creativity. 

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am a London based artist, specialising in directing and photography. I also do art direction, set design, and cinematography.  A lot of my work features women, black people and people of colour. I always want to represent the underrepresented authentically, and beautifully. Women have always been the centre of my work as I just am inspired by powerful women and creating spaces where women can express freely. I am inspired by dramatic and conceptual cinema, human facial expressions, and femininity. 

What inspired you to do what you do?

I think I am inspired by everything that I have seen, experienced, and fell in love with. Like fashion inspires me, my parents inspire me, my family, me growing in a household of only beautiful women have inspired me. Other people’s works, so many things. I have always just seen myself doing something big, great, I’m still on that journey, so knowing that I am going to get there really fills my heart. 

How has covid:19 affected your work?

At first, it has made me much more uninspired, having a lack of motivation, and not knowing what to do. I think I am still in that bubble if I am honest. However, each day I take on new tasks, of how I will be doing my work – and when. I had many things I wanted to do, but it has been either moved or postponed, I guess sometimes it could be a way of just me understanding that I should take a break, go back to the drawing board and feel creative again without any timing restraints.

What was the biggest challenge of working from home whilst in self-isolation?

Motivation. Sometimes being around your bed all day/ everyday makes it so easy to just Biggest challenge was finding a way to figure out a schedule when I literally had so much time to do anything I wanted to do. However, then on top of that I had to attend university online, and create a mass amount of work – it wasn’t difficult, it was just overwhelming with everything going on. 

On a day to day, how do you balance a personal and professional life, especially now that you’re working in quarantine?

I think working from home is a myth. Everything starts to blend into one, and somehow you can become restless – that happened to me a lot until I began to make schedules / my day to day tasks of what I wanted to do/achieve throughout that day. I think making a schedule and including time for yourself is the best thing to do during this time.

What are some of the highlights/successes you’ve had most recently?

I think a good success is being approached by GUAP magazine to do a Facetime shoot for them. This is my first time being chosen // my work being recognised in that sense and I cannot lie, it’s an amazing feeling. I just hope this can come with many more opportunities. for the Cover was an amazing opportunity and I’m so blessed to have been a part of it! 

What’s next for you on your journey?

I would hope to begin working with more of a range of models to create magical work. I also hope to create a short film hopefully by the ending of this year, and work with more magazines and campaigns. Something really I hope to do  this year, and also get an internship. 

What would be your advice to other creatives, struggling to maintain creativity and motivation in isolation?

I would say, do not see it as – if I don’t create anything time was wasted. Take each day as a day to make a better you, because when you begin to work on yourself, you begin to get into the groove of working on yourself and working on projects that matter to you. I would also say spend time doing things that inspire you, or just something you simply enjoy doing or haven’t done before. It can create some really good creative juices. 

What have you learnt about yourself and the world whilst in isolation?

I have learnt that I am stronger and more powerful than I give myself credit for. I am glad that during this time I have begun to take more consideration and read more upon health, my hair,  and my culture even more. I feel that during this lockdown I have learnt that despite being in lockdown and given rules you are in control of how you react to them. I started off this lockdown not great, and now I am on a journey to bettering myself and my craft. 

How do you hope our society will change for the better after COVID -19?

I hope people appreciate othI hope that people will take much more pride and consideration with their hygiene and respecting people’s space. I also hope that our society will start to value life much more, and appreciate the small things. I also hope many more people will consider supporting independent and upcoming artists and help them build their journey.

Check out the GUAP Arts & Culture section, to discover new art, film, and creative individuals.