An interview with Cai Leplaw

Cai Leplaw won 1st Prize in our Open Call competition with an image judge Dilys Ng described as “a waver between fiction and reality”, praising its intriguing uneasiness. Taken from a brilliantly titled series “Slighting Odd and Kind Of Uncomfortable” which we learn touches on topics of beauty in suffering, political upheaval and mental wellness, we were keen to know more. So here we put questions to Cai on that series and his sources of inspiration, his creative approach, and his future plans…

Cai, congratulations on winning our Open Call competition. What did you make of judge Dilys Ng’s comments?

The purpose of this series was to spark inquiries in the viewers’ minds, encompassing everything from concept to post-production manipulation. Dilys Ng’s feedback confirmed that my intention was achieved and has influenced my approach to creating new images. I am grateful for her insights.

Can you tell us a little more about the image itself, and the story behind it?

My goal was to illustrate the feeling of societal pressure from sources such as social media, family, partners, and others, which can often be overwhelming or suffocating. I aim for this work to be relatable to a wide audience, while also serving as a personal expression for me.

And I understand it’s from a brilliantly-titled series Slightly Odd and Kind Of Uncomfortable. Tell us a bit about that and where the name comes from…

The series delves into the intricacies of human emotion and the world around us. It is a visual manifestation of my personal journey through the beauty of suffering, political upheaval, mental wellness and the pursuit of capturing relatable feelings. Balancing on the delicate line between reality and the surreal I invite the audience to step into a world of open-ended questions, to con-template and question. It is my utopia, where I hope to spark meaningful conversations and evoke a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Dilys noted its “peculiar melting quality” and “overall uneasiness”. From a technical standpoint, how did you achieve the shot?

This image is a composite of approximately 20 individual shots. I’m grateful to my subjects for their patience and cooperation as I experiment with creative concepts like this. The challenge in capturing this image was to freeze the precise moments of water hitting the face, while carefully adjusting facial expressions to bring the vision to life. Put simply, my subject is a champion for putting up with me throwing water into their face for half an hour.

Is there another shot you’re particularly proud of from the series? Why that one?

I’m proud of the whole series – each image in the series delves into its own unique inquiry, asking questions that are worth exploring. I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this world to life and am thankful to all those who have helped me in its creation.

It seems that in much of your work there’s a tension between the beautiful and the unsettling – an anxious energy maybe? How would you describe your style and approach, and where do you draw your inspiration from?

As an artist, I draw my inspiration from the world around me. Photography and image creation have always been a form of therapy for me. My work is not just meant to provoke thought and discussion among my audience, but it is also a way for me to explore and question my own be-liefs and perceptions. My passion is to find the beauty in the seemingly grotesque and present it in a way that challenges the viewer’s perception.

And you also seem unafraid to use a range of techniques, sometimes relying heavily on Photoshop, other times applying effects in camera. Is it a case of the idea coming first, and then finding the tool to achieve it, or is it a bit more experimental than that?

Before shooting, I always have a pre-planned concept and aim for a specific final result. However, the creative process often leads to new inspiration and ideas that can be further developed.

I understand you’re working on a debut solo show. What can you tell us about that?

Yes, the main goal this year is to present my debut exhibition here in Sydney. At this stage, I am finalising all elements of the show and hopefully, it will come to life in the second half of this year. Currently, I am determining the number of elements to include in the work and savouring the process of bringing it to life. I can’t wait to share this with the world.

And I also see you’ve minted some NFTs of your work. How has that experience been? Do you think NFTs are here to stay, and a valuable medium alongside prints, physical exhibitions etc.?

I think as an artist you want to explore as many different avenues and marketplaces as possible. The NFT world has so much potential and I think it can offer artists a different way of pushing and promoting their works.

Finally, is there a single piece of advice you wish you could share with your younger self or other emerging photographers?

Don’t be afraid to play and experiment. Draw inspiration from everything and anything that causes you to feel.