——Your pictures are really beautiful and strong like music. It’s also a little bit dark.
Valerie : I was really influenced by punk and post punk. I like girls who are quite tom boy. Even if they are little bit girly, they are still like quite fearless. Tough and cool. Girly plus tom boy plus all those things mixed up.
——How did you come up with those names?
Valerie : I’m obsessed with names and titles. I love poetries and titles. In a way, it’s always the most important part of my projects. It sort of defines the projects for me. So I’ve come up with them, you know, all different place. My new book, “Another Girl Another Planet”, is actually the title of my favorite song. It’s one of The Only Ones’s songs. They’re like post punk British band. Maybe fro the late 70’s or early 80’s. And there’s a beautiful song called “Another Girl Another Planet”. I thought that was perfect for my girls who all look like from another planet. All amazing and weird. I was on the bus and looking out the window and that came to my mind.
——What is your inspirations?
Valerie : I was very inspired by a store in New York. A little independent shop called Printed Matter which cells artist books, zines, and self published books. It’s very famous so probably you know it. When I was younger I would go in and just think “What is all this cool weird stuff!?” I wasn’t cool enough to understand but it was amazing and I was really excited. I wanted to be a part of it. I’ve always loved a lot of kinds of artists like Alexander Calder, Rovert Rauschenberg, Joseph Cornell, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Very very different types of artists. In a way I’ve been inspired more by art than photography. But also by artist books, zines, punk, skate, DIY culture and all music.
——So you have many things in your house? (laughs)
Valerie : Yeah. (laughs) Big collection.
——What is your favorite in the collection?
Valerie : I think my favorite ever is a book called “The Bad Son” by Harmony Korine. I love this book. But it’s hard to say because I also love Sally Man, an American photographer. And I actually really like Hiromix.
——What kind of magazine do you like?
Valerie : There’s a magazine called “Mushpit”. It’s an independent magazine. That’s my favorite magazine.It’s really weird and funny. I used to really love “The Face”. There are some other nice things as well such as I.D. and Vice. I don’t really like very high class fashion because they’re no personalities. They’re too sanitized. I don’t mind them but it’s not really my styles.
——Where do you usually get those ideas for shooting from?
Valerie : Hmmm you know what? I don’t really like ideas so much. I like to take pictures of girls. That’s what my pictures always about. I just go where they are, decide where to shoot, and I just decide that naturally. I never plan that. Because I want to capture the chaos and vibes they’ve got. You can see that from the pictures. Nothing was planned. (laughs) Every time.
——So you’re always looking for girls for your photography. What is most important when you try to look for them?
Valerie : I think initially I’m drawn to the way someone looks. Looks is also indication of what’s going on in America and their personalities. First it’s just looking and looking. And then if I wanna know more about the person and think they’re interesting, like maybe the way they move, or the way they hold a tea cup or anything, I talk to them and see the personality. Maybe take a few pictures and see if we can understand each other or if we spend a day together. So it’s very mutual. It’s like you’re meeting your girlfriend or boyfriend, or even friend. Something clicks and it’s very important.
