Margie Rischiotto’s practice is where internet core meets fever dream fantasy

Kinetic, unapologetic and uniquely irreverent, the creative practice of Margie Rischiotto is obscure by its discipline – forming a gooey space between illustration, art, and design – but crystal clear in its tone. Singularly and confidently weird, Margie approaches her work with playful, purposeful intention, cultivating a philosophy that she defines as “cleverly chaotic”. “I enjoy finding that sweet spot between too much and too little,” Margie says, recalling how it had taken quite a few years to find her creative footing and signature approach. “I feel like my work has been leaning more into escapism,” she adds, “it’s like the internet core meets my fever dream fantasy.”

As Margie alludes to, early internet, and indeed turn of the millennium culture, is a major inspiration, specifically shouting out Plazm magazine, Mondo magazine, Eyewitness educational videos, and TV shows like Cyber Chase as key players. “This era did such a good job at breaking the rules of type by incorporating illustration and collage,” Margie continues, with some more recent cultural moments also serving a similar influence – namely Little Baby’s Ice Cream advert. “It’s weird, it’s uncomfortable, and it subverts what you would typically see in a normal ice cream commercial,” she lauds. “This is something I want and try to do in my own work,” – taking pleasure in making her audience creatively uncomfortable. “I want them to observe and absorb every detail to push them to think outside the norm,” she adds.

Focusing on Margie’s embracing of early internet aesthetics, she explains how the resurgence of the internet core, ironically proliferated through new media platforms, has made her practice all the more accessible. “Given how rapidly technology has advanced, it leaves a lot of emptiness for nostalgia to fill,” she says, “we adapt so quickly to the newest and latest update that tech interfaces quickly get left in the past,” almost using her work as a homage to “the forgotten internet” that raised her. “I really loved how, as a kid, technology allowed you to visualise your escape into fantasy worlds,” such as the ones she herself now creates. Similarly, Margie’s passion for working in the music scene grants her another avenue for escape and manifestation. “I love working on art for musicians because it gives me a very tangible base to abstractly apply my own interpretation,” she says, having just worked with Xing on their album art and merchandise. “The sonic element acts as the perfect moodboard wherein the sound and visuals build off one another,” she continues, channelling the album’s tone into “clumsy and claustrophobic” 3D renders. 

Looking ahead, it seems things will only get weirder for Margie, allowing her further creative rein. “I love exploring and changing up designs and getting to play,” she explains, “it’s amazing to have that hands-on experience within creatively explorative spaces,” expressing her gratitude for continuing to create the wild, weird work she does. “I find myself creating work I love in unusual places,” Margie ends, “and it challenges me to find outside-the-box methods to pull the viewer in.”