Hey Aunia, please introduce yourself to our readers and give us a brief history on how you first entered the World of Art.

I have always had a place in the world of art but mostly on a very private continuum. Two of the most memorable, and notorious adventures were painting with red nail polish on my mother’s very new white bedspread which she had saved for months to purchase, and sitting in school not only doodling religiously on empty notebook pages, but also taking different colored ink pens (which were big in the 80’s) and creating patterns and drawing “tattoos” up and down my entire arms, from my hand all the way up to the shoulder. My professional art career started in 2005 when I was coaxed to share some of my most personal and private work publically in gallery settings. I was very weary of this, but found it exhilarating and therapeutic. The feedback was overwhelming and rewarding so I kept doing it.

What mediums do you use to produce your artwork and what is your favourite medium to use?

My work is a combination of many disciplines wrapped into one, kind of a hybrid art form which consists of melding photography, painting and collage work. Honestly I don’t have a favourite right now, I love to do a little bit of everything. I enjoy using sound; I’ve been playing with film, and even started to work with salt ceramic again. If I’m introduced to a new medium I instantly want to try it. I love to learn and try new things. It’s an addiction of sorts.

Your work has a definitive eerie and disturbing feel to it, with many images often evoking emotion from the viewer as well as an understanding – why do you think so much of your work has a darker edge and feel to it?

I would have no doubt it was from drinking blood as a baby. Probably not the real answer, but it’s a true story nonetheless. My fascination with the darker things and being curious has always been innate. People see what’s right in front of them while I am checking out the shadows cast behind the object or the little things that they may be missing while focusing on the obvious. I have always been interested in what’s behind, underneath, below and hidden, those things lurking physically, emotionally and mentally uncovered and unappreciated.

Has your career as an artist ever been held back, shunned or completely misunderstood by others due to your highly controversial and honest outlook on life expressed through each painting?

I started to create work purely for myself so in the beginning it was never a question when I finished pieces if someone might like them or not. As I stated to exhibit work I felt a bit awkward, at first due to the private nature of my earlier work, but I found that more people took to it than not. Funny you ask me this questions since I recently received and email stating that I should be held responsible the next time a kid shoots up a school due to the nature of my work. This just shows how shallow or narrow-minded people can be. I have pity for those who can’t find beauty in both light and dark as long as no one or nothing is being hurt. You have to take the good with the bad. But when you’re in the public sharing works that push limits you have to expect people are going to push against you, but it goes to show that you’re making an impact, making people think and doing your job as an artist.

As well as painting and the other mediums you are also spurred on creatively when it comes to music, tell us about your industrial band ‘AfterChain’ and what sort of emotional release does being in a band give you?

AfterChain is a version of expressing myself with sound rather than visually. If only I was permitted more time for this project I would be grateful, but being a one-woman band makes it difficult to balance my time between that and my art career. I have been secretly looking to work with another band where I could be more a “part” such as a “singer/lyricist” rather than trying to run a whole project myself from creating the music (drums, base lines, synths, etc.), to writing lyrics, singing, mastering, CD artwork and so forth. I am sure the right band will come along, and even so it doesn’t mean I won’t be doing AfterChain anymore. AfterChain will always be a part of my life even if a song is created once a year.

Are you inspired by any other artists and if yes then why those people in particular?

My art is more inspired by musicians, film writers and authors rather than other artists. I find song and words to be great drivers with my emotions and help me with creation. I am a big fan of Anne Sexton, and Neil Gaiman as writers. As for music I adore Tom Waites, Madonna, Nick Cave, Peter Gabriel and Tool, they are very motivating as creators and can definitely influence my creations.

Do you have a personal favourite out of all your images so far? And if yes tell us which one and why?

Favourites with anything for me change like the weather, I am ever changing where certain pieces touch me on a certain day and other days I haven’t a single attachment beyond being the creator. Sometimes I create something and don’t feel it at all, but months or years later I fall in love with it or fall out of love with one I have always adored. Plus as you grow as an artist sometimes symbolically you can cherish a work you did, but the technical aspect seems not to be up to par with where you are currently.

You are currently working on a visual project called ‘Silver Era Tarot’ that has so far taken two years, can you tell us a bit more about that and on a personal level, are you a regular tarot reader?

I fell in love with tarot cards for their symbolism, the countless artists that have created art for the decks and the decades of time that people have been a part of such circles. Since most of my personal art is laced deep with symbolism and I wanted to learn to read the cards I decided to start to design a deck for myself. Originally I was only interested in doing the Major Arcana which is 21 cards, but I fell in love with the project and ended up creating a full 78 card deck. In this I was able to research each card and then create one with corresponding symbolism. Decks can be pure artistic, but I wanted to stick with a functional deck modelling off the original Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) interpretations. I do read cards, but don’t do it very often. I mostly do it for myself, but don’t mind doing readings for others.

Have you ever been commissioned for any album artwork, band merchandise or private portraits? And are you available for any commissioned work at this time?

I have done all three. Album design work started years ago before my career as an artist when I ran an independent recording label in Illinois, originally I was looking to help my AfterChain project and a few other bands. This was all before the big boom in buying MP3’s when smaller labels had more of a chance in the market. The first CD cover I did was my own and then branched out to help other bands find a visual representation of their sound/lyrics/album since being a creator of music as well I found that I had the ability to take a bands sound and turn it into a visual representation. I have a love for both music and art and enjoy doing work related to both. As for portraits I have done a few, some private others displayed publically. Since I use myself, as a model is a lot of my work I find doing commission rewarding and refreshing. When I have time I am open to commission and freelance work on both the artistic and professional spectrums. Some of my graphic design work can be seen at www.auniakahndesign.com.

If you were president for the day and could pass any law – what would it be? And why?

There is many I would like to pass, but if I had to choose one that is in the forefront of my brain right now it would be that animal abusers/murderers would have to pay the same penalties human abusers/murders do. People see animals as property, which is wrong in my book. They are living, breathing creatures that have a soul. It truly is hard to pick just one; there are so many laws that could be passed for the greater good.

Do you have any personal goals that you would like to complete this year?

My number one goal is to get the Silver Era Tarot deck published, and to get my poetry/B&W Photography book out. I would love to be able to travel to some new places to exhibit my work and meet more of my fans in person. There are many other things I am working on getting accomplished but those are kept quite in my secret closet for now.

Here is your chance to have a few final words, you can write anything you want in this space.

I feel very peaceful in the fact that I get to do what I love everyday. Although it was not what I had originally planned to do with my life, it is obviously what I am supposed to do. I want to thank everyone who has supported me creatively, and otherwise. I know I am a pain in the ass!

And finally from us, if you could play God for a day – who would you make an Angel and who would you send to Hell? And why?

Many people do good deeds, a few do great feats and only a couple would sacrifice themselves. In this time in our history all these people should be found, acclaimed, respected and loved. All good deeds deserve praise, for anyone that saves a life either human or animal, helps to stop suffering and can sacrifice for the good of others. I don’t think you can have too many Angels, so why not reward them all? I would.

Hell has so many vast numbers of people that write their one-way tickets everyday. Murders, rapists, oppressors, animal abusers and the like get to experience it all, unfortunately there are so many that go unpunished because of their status as a celebrity, having political power, can throw a ball or have millions of dollars. I would send those that believe themselves above the law, meekly punished for crimes you and I would die for if we did, and those that show no remorse and won’t change. Karma is the biggest ally anyone could have, but also the biggest enemy for those destined for Hell as well; Evildoers beware, that kitten has claws and she isn’t afraid to use them.