What influences translate into your art practice?
My artistic projects emerge from my own personal perspective and experiences. In my current project ‘My beautiful children and other anomalies’, I am questioning maternity and infertility. In doing so, I am exploring physical and psychological anomalies, while reflecting on the female condition and one’s obligation of experiencing motherhood, to be considered a real woman.
What initially captured your imagination about glass?
I was first drawn into the realm of glass because I was captivated by the seemingly
magical ways that this material is worked. In mere seconds, it transforms from liquid into solid, sometimes fragile and sometimes solid. I was completely fascinated by this material that reflects the many contrasting character traits of humankind.
What was your route to becoming an artist?
I was a creative child. I have always been making things with my hands; making presents for Christmas, making my own costumes, dresses for my dolls… So it wasn’t a question about being an artist or not, I just always had a need to create.
What is your chosen medium and what are your techniques?
For the past four years, I have mostly worked with glass and fabric.
I work with blown glass and lampworked glass. As I mentioned before, hot glass captivates me.
I believe that fabric appeared in my work because of my roots and the fact that my grandparents worked in the textile industry. This created a direct correlation with my family. Often, I use floral fabrics inspired by Spain and some of the samples of fabric that were knitted or embroidered by my grandmother.
How would you describe your work and where do you think it fits within the sphere of contemporary glass?
As an artist, I believe that my work has created a bridge between visual arts and fine crafts. Truly, I hope that I am participating in ending the division between those two sectors that perfectly coexist in my work. Furthermore, as a woman, I see my contribution to the art world as a way of adding my own discourse to the history of women that has been stifled by a patriarchal society.
Who do you look up to when it comes to aesthetics?
Fashion designers like Ryunosuke Okazaki, Guo Pei, Comme des Garçons and the expertise of Chanel Couture.
What currently inspires you and which other artists do you admire and why?
At the moment, I’m very inspired by the ‘Me too’ movements and the ‘pro-choice’ movements as a step forward in gender equality. As a feminist I celebrate all these movements and I try to be more socially engaged with my art.
There are many artists I admire, they are mostly women who are unswervingly true to themselves and to the ideas within their work ; Michele Lapointe, Patti Smith, Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois, Anaïs Nin, Kiki Smith, etc.
