Siniša: Just Don’t Take Them Seriously

All these images make the individuals we admire, fear, or whose genius can make us feel small, at least for a moment, seem no longer larger than life. Instead, their playful and irreverent attitude shows us that it’s better to remain unimpressed by how people present themselves. And that humor doesn’t necessarily make the state of the world better, but it does make it a little more funnier.

Behind these images is Siniša, art director of Mowalola, fashion’s audacious and boundary-pushing label of the moment, and videographer from Eastern Europe who is now based in London. An expert in image editing and weird body modification using AI, Siniša reimagines public figures as well as random images he found in the depths and dark corners of the web, be it porn shots, glimpses of computer games, or just funny, everyday moments. He tends to remain in the background while letting the images speak for themselves, yet he answered a few of our questions for Fräulein.

Ann-Kathrin Riedl: What has influenced your aesthetic in general

Siniša: Tech, anime, the internet.

What brought you to photography and video, and how did you develop your style of editing?

I always liked video, so I wanted to do it myself. I actually don’t like photography; I rather direct the photo and do the editing. Editing, I taught myself.

I heard you have a massive collection of images – do they feel like your “children,” in a way?

Yeah, I like to collect for my archive, to keep it personal and not share it with people. I usually do edits quite quick, to just move on to the next. Otherwise, I look at it too much and start disliking it.

How did your Instagram account achieve cult status? And why do you rarely appear yourself and choose to be anonymous?

I’m not anonymous, but I also don’t post selfies.

People are at the center of your work. What makes a person interesting to you as a subject?

It’s not personality, much more so the look. I have to be interested visually to have fun shooting someone. Good vibes are a plus.

What inspired you to create the series featuring pregnant celebrities, and why is it so disturbing to see their round bellies, especially those of men?

I like to see something weird and it all started as a joke. I had no idea people would be into it as much as I was… but yeah, it’s random.

Do you enjoy editing famous persons who take themselves very seriously and want to control their image?

I enjoy editing in general because I make myself laugh most of the times. I chose famous people because we all know how they look, so it low key feels just stranger.

Do you look at your subjects with amusement or rather with mockery?

More in a joking way.

How is your style currently evolving? What direction would you like to go in the future?

I’m currently working as art director for Mowalola so I’m aligning my style with the brand’s DNA atm.

How do you view the current state of our world?

Edgy.