Wish You Were Here... Lulu Yao Gionello

The brains behind cross-cultural journal FAR-NEAR, Lulu Gioiello wears many hats. As both an editor-in-chief and a creative director, Lulu recently headed to Bali and Thailand to head up the creative direction on an upcoming film project. Here Lulu gives us a taste of her tropical life off set.

Where are you right now and what are you doing?
Shooting a film in Bali and Thailand. 

How would you sum up what you do in a sentence?
An art director trying to make culturally insightful and unexpected work.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A manga artist.

What did you do on your last day off?
Launched the second volume of my book series FAR–NEAR.

What's your greatest ambition?
To create beautiful and meaningful work.

Do you have any phobias?
Being considered a phony.

Who do you most admire?
I admire self-starters who conceive of things I’ve never even thought about before.

What's the last dream that you can remember having?
It was a sexy dream about my friend, name undisclosed...

If you could ask anyone a question, who would you ask, and what?
Ryuichi Sakamoto - will you make the soundtrack to my life?

Describe yourself in three words…
A black cat.

What’s the most surprising thing we’d find out if we looked at your phone?
The only music I have is a Sleeping Baby Music Box album and 77,893 unread emails.

The perfect night out?
A random italo disco party with cool people.

“The funniest person you know?
I can’t get enough of Nathan For You.”

The funniest person you know?
I can’t get enough of Nathan For You.

One thing you can’t live without?
Films.

Favourite thing to eat?
Anything pocket-like: dumplings, ravioli, pierogis…

Least favourite thing to eat?
Slimy foods.

What was your first job?
Doing my dad’s laundry.

Who or what inspires you?
The only thing constant in life is change.

The best advice you've ever been given?
Don’t be afraid to divert from your original path.