Jillian Mendoza
Zine 15 - Sharing the Power
How would you describe your profession?
I’m just a simple illustrator starting out!
What’s your country of origin, and how did you end up in Scotland?
I was born in the Philippines in 2002. My mum, who’s a nurse, was offered a job in Glasgow. She accepted the offer as she wanted a better life and more opportunities for us. Along with a group of other Filipino nurses, she flew to Glasgow and by 2004 my dad, brother and I moved here, too. My younger brother was then born here, and we have been living in Scotland ever since.
As an artist, what medium and formats do you use?
I try to be as open-minded as possible with my process, so an important element of that is improvisation. I avoid being perfectionist and technical in my art, and instead I focus on feeling, atmosphere, or a thought I’ve been pondering on. Then I let my subconscious to
take over from there. It creates some interesting results! I am most comfortable using things that I can easily acquire, such as scraps of paper, sketchbook pages, pens, pencils and paint markers. The simpler the better! I also scan drawings and edit them digitally if need be.
Has your or your family’s experience of migration influenced your art?
I’m at an age where I’m seriously questioning my sense of identity. I have made a couple of illustrations surrounding my Filipino heritage, family life, and the cultural traditions I grew up with. With that said, I do feel somewhat disconnected with the country I was born in. I haven’t been back in years, and I am accustomed to a westernised way of living. In a way, I use my drawings to tackle that disconnection and loneliness. I create characters that cheer me up and mirror some parts of myself that, hopefully, the viewers of my art can relate to. Many friends have called my work wholesome. I like to think it takes root in family and community values that my parents and family friends have instilled upon me, along with the importance of love in all forms.
What is your zine poster artwork about? What medium did you use?
It is about people (or fruit folk in the illustration rather!) building a house together. It symbolises community, teamwork, and building a better home for everyone. I used Posca pen and coloured pencil to make it as playful and vibrant as possible!
What elements of your cultural/ethnic heritage, if any, have you noticed in Scotland?
In Glasgow there now is a Jollibee and a Filipino supermarket. There also was a traditional Barrio Fiesta earlier this year in Motherwell.
Has anything happened as a result of you contributing your artwork to our zine series?
It’s made me think of my identity more and my place in the world. The amount of positive feedback on the illustration is much appreciated, thank you all!