This incredible makeup artist’s surreal creations are guaranteed to bend your mind, as she uses her own face as a canvas to create creepy photo-realist illusions.
Having only got into makeup artistry five years ago, 32-year-old Mimi Choi has become quite the online sensation for her stunningly detailed and surrealist creations.
I got into illusion make-up when I was a student, trying my first creative look in Halloween 2013. Whenever I feel inspired, I can start creating immediately. I draw inspiration from everything in my environment including patterns, sounds, shapes, angles and textures.
Mimi Choi, makeup artist
From transforming herself into a panda to a hamburger, Mimi’s diverse designs have taken on many forms during her four years as a professional, but in her latest series of illusions the results are far more mind-altering.
After a really positive reception on social media, I realised how much I could achieve with just a few pieces of make-up and was motivated to continue on from there. I show case all of my work on my website – I think people really enjoy the humour of my creations, because I don’t take my art too seriously.
Mimi Choi
Appearing to have multiple eyes and eyebrows in a kaleidoscopic pattern or even pixelating the entirety of her face, the Vancouver-based artist conjures up some truly breathtaking creations using only makeup and her face, which can take anywhere between three to five hours.
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These things really evoke emotions in me and I try to translate them into my art work. Another source (of inspiration) is the sleep paralysis I suffer from, in which I experience vivid hallucinations right before I wake up. These can be frightening but I choose to use it to fuel my creativity.
Mimi Choi
Showcasing regular works on her Instagram page, @mimles, Mimi, who takes inspiration from her lucid dreams, said: “After a career as a pre-school teacher, I decided to pursue my passion in makeup.”
(With inputs from AP)
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