A long time Propel Friend, Ria Maglinao is a Walyalup based creative and photographer who you’ve probably seen floating around at our events and programs. Ria started out as a Mosaic Intern back in 2019, and her career has since flourished. She most recently facilitated Beauty in the Mundane, a Mosaic photography workshop and has curated a line-up of local photographers for Youth Arts Mingle Night + Photography Exhibition. We chatted to Ria about what the event will look like, life as a freelancer and what the Youth Week WA KickstART Festival 2021 theme ‘Our Path’ means to her.

Who are you and what do you do?

Hi, I’m Ria from Walyalup! I’m finishing Anthropology and Sociology at uni which I hope will be an excellent niche with my already existing artistic endeavours - photography and writing! I was born overseas and have always had a passion for adventure, spontaneity and community. I love hosting artistic catch ups with my friends on my day offs but lately I’ve been busy constructing an enclosure for my frogs! I interned for Propel many moons ago and it has honestly done my career wonders. Not only that but it has introduced me to all the amazing creatives I am friends with now. With the upcoming exhibit + mingle night, I hope to meet more new friends.

What is your photography style like?

Because I have always been a writer, I would describe my photography style as very story inclined. I focus on using techniques to tell life in a daily basis, capture moods and really freeze those beautiful moments. 

How did you get into photography?

I was born overseas so English is not my first language but I have adulted here so most of my opinions and morals and beliefs are based on my life here. There has always been a gap wherein I can’t express myself in English nor in Tagalog (my first language), and art was the tool to bridge that gap. Any feelings I can’t express in words, I try to do so in photos. Initially it was just that, capturing the moments that usually goes unnoticed, the beauty in the mundanity of life and then one day the stars aligned for me and I started making income from doing what I love, so some many moons ago I decided to do it full time. It’s not always easy but the work is so fulfilling so I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

What does curating a mingle night look like?

In photography, there are a lot of things to consider— the story,  environmental conditions, the subject, the camera and its settings. All of this together is what makes a photo great. It’s the same with a mingle night. There are so many factors, so many people that work together for a single goal. Each of us have a different responsibility but all of our work goes towards making the mingle night a great night for everyone. It’s hectic and cute at the same time. I’m obsessed with the idea of things and community coming together— like our Mosaic Exhibition last time too! I believe this life of ours is meant to be shared.

What will the Youth Arts Mingle Night + Photography Exhibition look like?

For the Youth Arts Mingle night we are aiming to introduce new artists to each other — local photographers, poets and musicians!

The walls at The Art Garage 191 will be covered in beautiful photos related to our theme “Our Path”. There will be poets speaking their hearts out and in between, our night will be accompanied by lovely, lovely tunes from amazing local musos.

I absolutely enjoy getting people together over something crafty, I always invite my friends to come over for terrarium making and tonics or pottery and prosecco. So to be able to do that on a bigger scale really truly brings joy to my heart!

Propel has always been a huge help in recognising new and emerging artists and it’s so nice that there is an event just dedicated for that!

Why should people come and why are youth arts mingle nights important?

When I was starting out I was always complaining that there were barely any opportunities for me to be a part of an artistic community. But the thing is, the help has always been there – I just never asked. Mingle nights makes it so easy for every single one of us to get to know each other and to be aware that there is always help ready for us— we just need to accept it. I think everyone - old creatives or new, should use this opportunity to cultivate that sense of belongingness.

How have things been as a freelancer?

It both has its pros and cons just like any other job I assume. Obviously I get to do what I am truly passionate about — making art. But I think there seems to always be two types of struggles when you are a freelancer — landing jobs AND landing jobs you like. At this point I feel like I am transitioning to the later which at the moment feels a bit more challenging when you have bills to pay and can’t really just say no to other opportunities. My step from here on then is just to focus on improving my art, using my strong points and working on my weak ones. Fortunately, the pandemic period has helped me realise which type of opportunities are going to help me towards the path I chose.

What does the Youth Week WA 2021 theme ‘Our Path’ mean to you?

In relation to my answer on the previous question, I realised that I do love bringing people together and because of that, the path that I chose for my career growth is — our path.

I could not have achieved the things I want to achieve without the help and support of a community and in return I would also like to be a part of someone’s journey too, in any way I can be of help.

Bahayan (bahay means houses) is a Filipino tradition where the whole community helps you move your house, like literally lift the hut and move it. And I feel that our theme ‘Our Path’ really resonates with this tradition — helping each other will make it easier to establish our roots in new places and discover new sceneries.

Come along to Youth Arts Mingle Night + Photography Exhibition on Wednesday 14 April, 6pm at The Art Garage 191 and see Ria’s curated photography exhibition. Keep updated on Ria’s work by following her Instagram or visit her website.

INTERVIEW BY: YOSHIKA KON