Post 7 - How do you make it? Corine Etienne

Notes on Sky Hopinka – Inspirations and Creative Process:

Use of Medium: 

  Sky Hopinka uses video as a poetic, layered storytelling tool. His films often blend imagery, personal memory, language, and Indigenous perspectives, creating something that’s not strictly documentary or narrative fiction. His work leans heavily into experimental forms, utilizing visual abstraction, sound, and rhythm to explore ideas of identity, place, and the complexities of translation.

Inspiration to Use Video: 

  He was inspired by the flexibility of video—how it can be both intimate and expansive. Hopinka talks about being drawn to film as a way to reclaim narratives and spaces for Indigenous stories that are often overlooked or misrepresented. He sees video as a way to not just tell stories, but to evoke emotion, memory, and presence in unconventional ways. His time at the Evergreen State College and the influence of other experimental filmmakers shaped his approach.

Mnemonics of Shape and Reason (2021): 

  In this work, Hopinka overlays landscapes, voices, and archival footage with poetic text. It feels like memory unfolding in real time. The rhythm is hypnotic, and the layering mimics the way thoughts and memories collide. There’s a strong focus on Indigenous epistemologies and how they relate to geography, time, and language.

- My Medium & Process: 

  I work primarily with illustration and animation, often blending bold pop aesthetics (with deeper narrative elements. I use digital tools like Procreate and After Effects to create vibrant, dynamic visuals that can live on both screen and print. My animations often play with looping, texture, and contrast to build emotional rhythm.

- My Inspiration:  

  I’m inspired by street art, identity, and cultural mashups—especially how artists like Kara Walker and Futura tell stories through bold visual language. Like Hopinka, I’m interested in layering both visually and symbolically to tell more complex stories beneath the surface. My work is often driven by personal and cultural memory, and I aim to create pieces that feel both playful and reflective.