Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiselle Kamppila.
Hi Jiselle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At first, I was a pretty active painter, that’s what I have done most of my life. I spent my time investigating the human figure and what it means to have a body and to share a body with others. I went to study fine arts at Otis college of Art & Design in 2015 and there I discovered my undying love of symbolist poetry (yes, the era of a plentitude of the sensory) and existentialist fiction. I became obsessed with literary synesthesia as well, the cross-wiring of human senses to portray an object with words. Through the study of synesthetic literature and the active practice of poetry writing, I of course wanted to translate everything I wished to embody within words as a performance. So I was a performer for a while under the name Hollow of the Hand. My performances involved spoken word and the echoed scrapes of my knife on my guitar. But currently, I choose to use my time trying to strengthen my writing skills. That’s where I am today. I’m studying creative writing at Mount st. Mary’s university. But recently, I created an EP entitled “Chaos Are My Children”, which is currently streaming on Spotify.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Yes, there were many struggles. I have and still struggle with my mental health. It was and is challenging to navigate life and make art alone with bipolar and borderline personality disorder. That’s something I’m very transparent about. I’m not ashamed of it, rather the strength to endure its symptoms inspires me. My mental health has impacted my life and art in a way that is unique. And I’m proud of that.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is an entanglement of poetry, prose, and music. I’m obsessed with words. Words help me embody sensation, and that sensation materializes within my performances. I’m obsessed with exhibiting a voice within my work. By voice, I mean my individual and distinctive presentation of my experiences. By experiences, I mean the tethering of fortune and misfortune of my personhood. I aspire to have the voice of my work embodied by a loud yet muffled scream. That’s the nature of my art, and that’s what I do.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The truth. I’m always in pursuit of truth, and being honest and transparent is most important for my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: jisellekamppila.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollow_of_the_hand/
Image Credits
Jon Del Real
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