Creative Spotlight: Artist Shayna Klee
Shayna Klee, an American visual artist living in Paris documents her art school life and creative projects through short films and her widely popular YouTube channel The Purple Palace. As a longtime viewer of Shayna’s channel, it’s her colorful personal style, self-expression, the energy and creativity that she puts into her art that makes her videos insightful and inspiring. YouTube is Shayna’s digital gallery and art space and everyone, literally the entire world is invited to the opening.
In this interview Shayna talks about how much time is put into YouTube and what it’s like to be a young Parisian artist.
As an American studying art in Paris, why Paris?
I didn’t come to Paris to study Art. I was already living here for about two years before I decided to pursue art more seriously and go to school for it. I really like the French Art school system because it’s very liberal and very much self-directed. Each student has their own art studio and works according to their own schedule. I’m really independent so that is ideal for me.
How has your practice changed over time, since your first year there up until now?
The biggest change has been my desire to collaborate with others. In my first year I was focused on making as much work as possible and would pretty much stay in my lane. I now realize how enriching it can be to involve other artists (whether that’s in performance, video, etc) as we all have something unique to offer.
As an artist, do you believe that art should be funded?
Absolutely. The Arts stimulate the mind and aid in growing the imagination as well as the critical thinking area of the brain. They also bring together communities and help preserve culture and heritage.
What's your most inspirational place in Paris?
I love going to the Buttes Chaumont which is a beautiful park in the 19th arrondissement with rolling hills and little ponds. It’s a really unique natural space in the city. On a sunny afternoon I take a blanket and my sketchbooks and can spend hours their drawing, reading, painting, what have you.
With over 100k subscribers, does YouTube inspire your work?
Yes, for sure. I think I have yet to realise the full extent in which is has influenced me but there are definitely certain things I can say have inspired me. The mere act of filming oneself and publishing that on the internet for strangers to watch is such a new and bizarre thing in and of itself. I’ve become more interested in internet identities and the little person living inside the screen. We are living in a time where contact is available 24/7 but real connection is harder to come by. I think Youtube definitely has some elements of that. It’s a beautiful but sometimes lonely dynamic and it’s a tension that I think is really interesting to explore.
Would you ever consider doing YT full time. Why or why not?
As far as the hours are concerned, I already clock in well over 45 hours a week on my Youtube channel—whether that be filming, responding to comments, editing, planning videos, working on thumbnails, subtitling..I think many people would be surprised to hear that but posting quality content regularly on youtube is a full time job. That having been said, I would never want for YouTube to be my only line of work. I am first and foremost a contemporary artist with a lot of different artistic projects as well as my vintage shop and podcast. Personally, I like wearing many different hats because I think that the different branches of work ultimately end up feeding each other creatively.
Describe a real-life situation that inspired a piece of your work?
For my third year diploma show I created a musical theatre piece about a girl stuck inside a giant framed painting I suspended from the ceiling. She is carrying a large, human sized shell on her shoulders and the beach is projected behind her. Through out the performance she is looking out on a whimsical installation and the other performers who are dancing, singing, taking selfies —but she can not participate. The opening lines are “This is the frame in which I exist and in which I see and experience the world. From here, I can see everything. But can touch nothing. I can hear, but I can not be heard. If only I could make it to the other side, I could be the protagonist in my own life.” At the end, she switches places with the performers, but from the other side she sees it is not as great as it looked from the outside looking in. This performance is about how social media and Instagram in particular can make us feel like we are missing out, and that the identity we curate online in these square grids can take a precedent over real, human connection. The shell was a metaphor for the feelings of heaviness this pressure can put upon us. The performance was really quite funny and light hearted—I like to take current issues and explore them through satire.
Any advice to young students that are considering art school?
I often get messages from young people who are considering getting an art school education but are afraid of what a diploma in art will ultimately be worth in the “real” world. The reality is that a diploma in Fine Art alone is worth nothing by itself and does not translate to any type of job directly (as opposed to graphic design or applied arts). What an art school education does gives you is time to experiment, create and develop your unique identity as an Artist. I would advise using all the resources at your disposition (talking to teachers, using the art studios, grants, etc) to make the most of the experience. Lastly, I think in any art related field, you need to be a self starter from day one. It is never too early to start putting yourself out there and building a community that resonates with your work.
Are there aspects about YouTube and vlogging experience that you didn't know back then that you wish you knew? Was there an easier process or has the community changed?
That community is everything! It is so much better and enriching to have a small group of people that really love and care about your work and root for you as a creator than to attract a large, lukewarm audience. In other words: Quality over quantity. That having been said, consistency is so important. To really grow your audience it is advised to post twice a week. As a student that is definitely not something I can do, so I focus on just making the best work I can and being consistent with my own schedule (2-3 quality videos a month). The most important thing is to show up for yourself, no matter what the views or subscriber number, make the work you care about and forget the rest :)
A young artist has 24 hours to spend in Paris. Where should he/she go, do, eat, see?
I always say to pack a picnic, a bottle of wine, and wander along the Seine or people watch at a café in Montmartre. I think people focus too much on seeing the sights and often miss the real essence of the city and it’s people. Paris is all about taking the time to appreciate the simple pleasures.
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