Impars Project
Coordinator: Núria Garí
Interview
Text: Helena Morera and Delgado
Photographs: Marina Benito
What prompted you to study Fine Arts?
It happened very naturally; I have always been a painter and have had close contact with handiwork and crafts.
Has art always been present in your life?
I remember my grandmother sewing and creating her own patterns from scratch. My mother also liked to paint and make collages, and I loved looking at her creations and discovering all the details.
Would you say that art is more than just a job for you?
It is, and believe me, it can be challenging sometimes. I love that I have managed to turn what I am most passionate about into my job. I love visiting exhibitions and seeing the work of my colleagues. I feel very lucky, but it’s not an easy path. It is very difficult to separate leisure from work; to pause and disconnect.
Your work has a clear botanical style and a Costumbrist influence. Is there an artist who inspires you?
The artists I admire the most are those who are characterised by the use of light and colour. I love Hopper, Hilma af Klint, Alex Katz and Sonia Delaunay. I have a special affinity with hyper-realistic painting.
Flowers and nature are an essential element in your work.
This story is interesting; after finishing my studies, I stopped painting and worked more in design and cultural management. Over time I developed a lot of insecurity when it came to painting. Speaking to colleagues years later, I discovered this was quite common. (I could speak about this topic for hours).
I was convalescing for a time, and I started painting flowers because it helped me to rest my mind and relax. That’s where it all started.
Flowers give you peace.
Indeed, and since then, I like to reclaim the importance of being inspired by beautiful things and painting them without fear of appearing shallow or tasteless. That is why, over time, I also began to teach botanical painting workshops.
It is quite a challenge to capture the grandeur of nature. Do you get more inspired by watching nature closely or working in the studio?
Always through direct observation. If I have the opportunity to travel, I try very hard to be attentive to what is around me and just walk, it really helps me to think.
How did you receive the commission from UIC Barcelona, and what inspired you to create the work for Impars?
When I received the commission, I knew I wanted to create an image full of colour and floral elements, so I researched colours in nature during wintertime. While autumn is a time of rest, when nature is in repose, winter blooms more than we think, and that is what I wanted to reflect.
Can you describe the artistic process behind Solstice?
The truth is that I am a person who is very tied to the analogue format. So, when I dive into an artistic process, I almost always do it first with paint, either acrylic on paper or acrylic on canvas, because it allows me to express myself more freely. Once I finished Solstice, acrylic on cotton paper, I digitised it to make some final touches in digital format.
Winter is also full of colour. What is the symbolism behind the name Solstice?
The solstice has a lot of symbolism. It is considered a turning point and a moment of rebirth and renewal, so conceptually it seemed right to join it with the birth of Jesus. The idea of starting again, or blooming again, is reflected in the typical winter flowers of this season that surround the Holy Family: cyclamen, olive trees – a symbol of eternity – marigolds or brassica.
Considering your influences and botanical aesthetics, how have you connected this with the image of the Holy Family?
I thought that surrounding the Holy Family in nature and colour would create an accessible image that would feel personal, which anyone could identify with.
With Solstice, you have become part of the Nativities collection promoted by the Impars project. You bring your distinctive stamp to the collection.
I am so delighted. I took on this assignment with great awareness and respect, considering the theme and the relationship UIC Barcelona has with artists. It has been a lovely experience, thank you so much for having me!
If you had to define yourself as an artist in five words, which ones would you choose?
It’s difficult for me to define myself! I love to experiment with colour and carefully observe my surroundings. I also always encourage everyone to colour and paint because I know they will enjoy it.
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