Have a dream project you want to bring to life?
Our MØRNING People Fund alumni tell us how they made it happen
MØRNING! Last week, The White Pub’s Zarina Muhammad gave us her brilliant and brutal POV on the economic shitshow facing artists and creatives, and we got clear on what we can all do to keep art alive. In short? We can’t fix the creative economy overnight, but there’s plenty we can do to help in the meantime.
For us, that looks like The MØRNING People Fund: our way of fuelling creative projects that ordinarily sit on the fringes, and supporting the creatives who are brave enough to make work that pushes culture forward. The MØRNING People Fund represents *a new day* — a safe space for fresh ideas that make the world a little less shit. Have a peek at our manifesto here for everything you need to know.
And if you’re wondering what an MPF winner looks like, it’s your lucky day. We sat down with our MPF alumni to hear about their winning projects and (very importantly) who their dream breakfast guests would be…
Name: Jesse Glazzard (@jesse_glazzard)
Project: Soft Lad
What: A zine that explores the softness of trans masculinity through the lens, written notes, and trans masc mates
What first inspired you to do this project?
I wanted to make something that was representative of me as a trans guy, I think it was the response to an image I took that was of a trans guy that portrayed quite masculine stereotypes
Favourite moment in the project?
Probably when I realised that putting trans men on billboards wasn't safe. It taught me to challenge where my work was headed and reminded me that the work is vital to make, even if it doesn't get loads of eyes on it
What did making this project mean to you and how did it push your work forward?
It pushed me to show the smaller moments and to think of other ways of incorporating different forms of documenting like my writing
How do you like your coffee in the morning?
I became posh since moving to London so flat white with oat milk please
If you could have a breakfast date with anyone in the world who would it be?
Kate Bush every time, I’m not much of a fan boy but for her I can’t help it
Name: Dalia Aldu (@dalia.aldu)
Project: The Road To Nowhere
What: A magazine that showcases new creative & cultural writing, art, and photography about second-generation immigrants, various diasporas, and migration narratives.
What first inspired you to do this project?
Many things inspired me, but initially it was just daily immigrant life and the creativity that inherently arises from it. Seeing creatives like Riz Ahmed create entire albums and short films out of his life as a second generation Pakistani in Britain lit such a fire in me, I was determined to tell more stories like his because I could relate to them so much. It's been even more inspiring meeting people across the three years since I started the mag who are so incredibly talented and spirited and it keeps me driven.
What did making this project mean to you and how did it push your work forward?
It meant that I was able to give a voice to the marginalised diaspora voices. In our creative community, we've come to capitalise off of the creative work of marginalised people with scant regard for the individuals themselves. My work is a consistent attempt at highlighting the value, beauty and perils of immigration and I do that through creativity, because art is a deeply human language. Having my work funded this year by MØRNING meant I was able to push so many of the boundaries of the magazine and we almost literally exploded in growth, too much to name here. So the magazine is pushing my work forward in the most meaningful way and has opened countless doors for both me and the magazine itself.
Favourite moment in the project?
So hard to pick just one. No favourites, but one incredible moment was, predictably, the launch because I could finally meet so many of the amazing contributors and everyone was beaming with love and joy for their work.
How do you like your coffee in the morning?
Double espresso.
If you could have a breakfast date with anyone in the world who would it be?
Do they have to be alive? Anthony Bourdain, obviously. or Hayao Miyazaki... or Mary Oliver!
Name: Lena Yokoyama (@lena_yokoyama)
Project: Onomatopoeia
What: A series of illustrations titled ‘Onomatopoeia’ to visually explore and depict a variety of sounds found in Japanese language and everyday life.
What first inspired you to do this project?
I’ve been working with the concept of translation a lot in my personal practice and have been wanting to focus specifically on Japanese Onomatopoeia. Since graduating from Uni, however, I hadn’t had the chance to take time to properly focus on a personal project like that, which the MØRNING People Fund finally made possible. I got to travel to Tokyo, draw on location and do primary research for the project, which was honestly such a dream come true.
Favourite moment in the project?
When I met this old Ojisan in a bar at Golden Gai and he reviewed all my drawings I did for the project. He was very drunk but gave me incredibly good constructive feedback. People in general loved getting involved and contributing their ideas to my project, it was such a joy to experience.
What did making this project mean to you and how did it push your work forward?
This project was a way to take a deep dive into parts of my culture that I didn’t know so well. It gave me the opportunity to travel back to my birth country, connect with my roots and learn about new notions of the language and therefore of the culture. It was a deeply personal project and seeing how I could still make it into something that would be interesting to people outside of this world, taught me a lot about the kind of art I want to be making in the future.
How do you like your coffee in the morning?
Recently, decaf americano, no milk, with honey.
If you could have a breakfast date with anyone in the world who would it be?
Takashi Yamazaki (film director) <3 after just seeing his newly released movie Godzilla Minus One in the cinema in NYC last night.
A collection of Japanese phrases Lena gathered during her project
Ira ira - Describes a displeased or irritable feeling.
Pika pika - Shiny, glittering.
Goro goro - The sound of thunder, or Something big and heavy rolling.
Chika chika - light.
Uto uto - to doze off.
Uro uro - to wander aimlessly.
Doki doki - The loud, pounding of a heart when nervous or excited.
Potsu-Potsu - sporadic raindrops.
Shitoshito - gentle rain.
Para-Para - scattered and irregular rain.
Zaa-zaa - Heavy rain.
Name: Jody Evans (@jdyevns)
Project: BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
What: Zine about queers and their creative practices. It is a homage to the DIY Dyke, a critique of heteronormativity and an admiration of the talent in the community.
What first inspired you to do this project?
My friends and family that are grafters. Working labour-intensive and creative jobs doing something that they believe in. I think we share a lot of ourselves in the work we make and I am in awe of my friends’ creativity. I am constantly amazed by what they make, whilst respecting the hard labour they put into their work. Most people in the book are working multiple jobs to support themselves whilst teaching themselves new skills. I wanted to make a book that celebrated this about my queer friends, showing the physical labour as well as the love and care that they put into their work.
Favourite moment in the project?
Probably my first shoot for the book with Vilma Titz. I didn’t know I was going to be making this book at the time of our shoot, but it really inspired me to do so. I loved hearing about their performance work, we had so much fun on our shoot, and it was only one of the first times we had met. The pictures we made together are some of my favourite pictures ever. We became really good friends after this shoot and I am so grateful for that.
What did making this project mean to you and how did it push your work forward?
It meant a lot to me to be able to make a book, a physical object for my work to exist in. I have been wanting to make a book for so long and this fund enabled me to do so, as I wasn't able to fund one myself. I think instagram is a bit of a void so I am really grateful to have made something that I can keep forever. Making this project has meant that I’ve been able to see my work on a larger scale with more moving components to consider, which in turn has helped me to become a better creative director. Its slowed down my process, which has helped me to be more considerate about my selection process as well and becoming more attune to finer details.
How do you like your coffee in the morning?
In bed, with oat milk.
If you could have a breakfast date with anyone in the world who would it be?
Catherine Opie or Jennifer Coolidge. Catherine Opie to pick their brain, talk about being a dyke photographer and queer history, Jennifer Coolidge for the vibes and laughs.
That’s all for today. Many thanks to our very wonderful recipients, and to all of you who are busy applying for this round of the MØRNING People Fund. Big things pending…
See you next week, and catch as @morning.fyi in the meantime.