Mikaella Mousicos

Mikaella Mousicos conceived the concept of her zine to be crafted entirely from found materials, inspired by her exploration of the lives of previous occupants of her flat through undelivered mail. Transforming these letters into paper, she ingeniously repurposed them as the foundation of her zine's pages. Every element, from binding to content, is crafted from found materials, most collected from the streets, symbolising a collection of abandoned materials reflective of London's transient nature. Rooted in the theme of "what we owe to each other," her zine delves into philosophical concepts inspired by T. M. Scanlon's work, exploring the dynamics of living in a shared urban environment and the conscious and unconscious legacies we impart. Environmental concerns are also woven into the narrative, highlighting the recycled nature of the materials and their implications for future generations. Mikaella's creative process involves curating street finds and assembling them into thought-provoking photo montages, capturing the ephemeral essence of urban life. She acknowledges the inherent adaptability of her medium, drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as local newspapers, pamphlets, and discarded books, ensuring each issue of her zine is a unique exploration of common themes. This sentiment extends to the binding, which utilizes repurposed zip ties found at building sites as well as ink made from burnt found paper, further underscoring the zine's ethos of transforming discarded objects into meaningful artifacts.Embracing the whimsical nature of her materials, Mikaella opted for a title crafted from words that resonate with her message, symbolizing both the constraints and freedom inherent in her creative endeavor.