Industry Insider | Shini Park of Cubicle Journal
Shini Park is delightfully unique. Her eye is what has led to her accolades, presss and starting a bi-annual book called ‘Cubicle Journal’. Shini is uber talented, her taste impeccable. We got to interview her. Be inspired, the questions are her own snd so are her answers.
– Shini it is been a while since we spoke, how are you doing?
Hi Marian, I’ve been very well, thank you – a little rocky at first but finding myself in a nice handsome productive state where I’m very happy with what we’re doing as a team now and content with my own personal and professional development! It has been a while indeed, I miss the good old (colourful!) times!
– You have become an instrumental fashion influencer with your own digital magazine. Tell us about Cubicle and it’s aim.
CUBICLE was a natural metamorphosis of my own digital journey. After 10 years of using myself as a subject, publishing on what was a very personal space (Park & Cube), I was ready to use everything I learnt to give back to the community I grew to love. I like to think of CUBICLE as a digital playground for soulful storytelling, with huge emphasis on digital fluency. As a team, we are also suckers for traditional graphic design and beautiful objects so CUBICLE is also published bi-annually as a hardcover book.
– What is currently inspiring you? Fashion, beauty, culture wise?
I’m really into reading the back-story on all my favourite photographers, painters, architects and interior designers. I’ve never had a chance to do this before, especially in the pre-lockdown fast-paced lifestyle, but I’m really getting to know the coming-of stories of my favourite masters and creatives. Did you know that Wes Anderson takes huge inspiration from Edward Hopper? Aside from that, I’m suddenly really into Youtube Vlogs. It’s inspiring me to be a bit more proactive at home!
– If you had to have a moodboard to express your inspiration currently what would be on it and why? Could you share one with us? Please talk us through it.
I’ve been really challenging myself to learn from photographers that really represent the CUBICLE branding and image, so I have a lot of works by Gian Paolo Barbieri, Guy Bourdin, Horst P.Horst and André Kertész to name a few. A common theme I’m seeing these days is different ways of perception, and evoking movement in a still image. How this Barbieri image bottles up both Time and Movement through the use of long-exposure photography, or this manipulated (or it may have been shot through a distorted reflective surface) image by Kertesz that really plays with the concept of stillness and, again, time.
– You have always had great style. Could you share an image of an outfit that reasonates with you right now?
I’m starting to understand that I’m most comfortable in a sort of ‘ensemble’, so to speak – whether it’s a suit, matching pieces, or just a classic pairing like a matching shoes + bag. I love this outfit lately because it’s immediately presentable but at the same time I can stomp around town when said town re-opens! The older I get I tend to be drawn more towards clothing that I feel comfortable and productive in, and less in showing exact lines of my body.
-What books, films and influences are influencing you right now?
Annoyingly I’m reading less books than ever (also ironically, given we’re home all the time now), but if there was one book I want to go back to is the 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari. When it comes to films my go-to is MUBI for inspiration, something about old classics just leave me so inspired to make something new! https://mubi.com/showing
-What are your goals for Cubicle?
To build a rock-solid, enthusiastic and interactive community based on all things design and storytelling. I want to bring the community back into the platform, especially Instagram, where I feel is starting to feel like a marketplace full of girls with no particular opinion or direction, if I’m frank.
– What backstage shows have you been at during the last fashion week and how did they inspire you?
The team usually works the Ferragamo backstage for global digital coverage, so we’re always left inspired by the sheer amount of work, expertise and passion that goes into a single fashion show. It’s hard to appreciate it when you’re just visiting, vs. When you have to work in that environment. I love the energy of Ferragamo backstage mostly, everyone knows what they’re doing and that means the show runs like butter.
– Share with us the IG lives and podcasts that you currently are finding inspiration from.
I love @Jamiebeck.co’s lives, especially when she was fulfilling her #IsolationCreation series, championing her community’s works as well. Otherwise I enjoy watching @NaomiYoga’s breathing/meditation sessions and @Balletbeautiful’s small workout Lives!