In our globalised world, our identities and cultures are in constant flux, fusing with different places, people and colours. Along the way, we find new references to expand our stories. The documentaries Nobu and Baba, made in collaboration with filmmaker Sarah Blok, are stylised portraits about immigrant fathers in the Netherlands. Drawing from her own Dutch-Japanese background, Lisa explores cultural identity, belonging and what it means to integrate into a country. The collection that Lisa created for the film Nobu is inspired by both Japanese and Dutch cultures, and for the film Baba, she was inspired by Turkish and Dutch backgrounds. These portraits show a deeply personal and multi-sided views on migration, purposefully magnifying stereotypes and clichés.
Today, we talk to Lisa on a sun-drenched terrace in Barcelona about cultural differences, fathers and daughters, the craft of good collaboration, finding your own voice, and the importance of telling new narratives to create space for lightness, beauty, optimism and humour.