In Conversation
INTERVIEW WITH ANDRELO SUÁREZ, ARTIST, DESIGNER AND FOUNDER OF ESPACIO MONDO
Today we would like to introduce you to Andrelo Suárez, artist, designer and founder of Espacio Mondo, who immerses us in a world where calm and contemplation are the protagonists, reflecting the essence of Plácido y Grata.
Through his work, Andrelo builds atmospheres that invite reflection, seeking to satisfy the need to connect with the essential in the midst of everyday life. From his map of Seville to his series ‘ Construcción de nuevos mundos’, each work is a dialogue between reason and emotion, exploring the coexistence of both concepts. Inspired by disciplines such as science and architecture, Andrelo finds in Espacio Mondo a platform for sharing ideas and fostering collaboration in the cultural and creative sphere.
Let’s get started! Your work seems to be impregnated with a sense of calm and contemplation, feelings much akin to Plácido y Grata. How do you build that atmosphere in your illustrations?
I’m happy to convey that feeling, it’s exactly what I’m looking for. With my illustrations I try to satisfy a need and approach a more contemplative attitude towards things. I try to depict something that I sometimes miss in everyday life.
The aesthetic line is marked by this, hence the simplicity of the organic forms, the generation of open spaces, freed from the excess of elements in the composition, and the chromatic palette based mainly on neutral and warm colours. I seek to create welcoming spaces in which I would feel comfortable living.
How has your artistic style evolved over the years and what drives you to continue experimenting and growing as an artist?
My artistic intention stems from the need to provide answers to some questions that arise in my day-to-day life. Art is my way of answering these questions and dealing with some inner conflicts. It is an introspective look and a way to put myself in front of the mirror, but at the same time, to separate myself from the ‘noise’ in order to perceive things in a different way.
As time goes by, my needs change and, therefore, so does my way of finding answers to the different questions that arise, hence the change and variation in both aesthetic language and technique. These changes also generate new stimuli, and I believe that this is fundamental in order to be able to continue doing what I like to do. Without change, the method would become routine, and it wouldn’t make sense for me to try and answer all the questions in the same way.
“This project was born out of a need we had, as professionals and art and design enthusiasts, for a space where we could carry out all those ideas that came up in meetings with friends”.
The map of Seville that you designed for the Hotel Plácido y Grata is a work that goes beyond the practical function of a tourist guide. How did you manage to capture the essence of the city and turn it into a visual experience?
For this project I tried to apply the same method I use in other works. I tried to communicate in my own words, in this case visually, to meet the needs of the project without losing my way of telling things. A foundation of my method is the dialogue with myself. I tend to ask myself a lot of questions and answer them as if I were the receiver of the message and this allows me to put myself in the other person’s shoes to see how the project will be perceived. On an aesthetic level, as you mentioned before, the line of my illustrations is in line with the character of the hotel, and in this case, it was easy for the work to fit in well.
Your series ‘ Construcción de nuevos mundos’ exhibited at the hotel explored the interplay between reason and emotion. Tell us more about it!
It was my first exhibition. As you say, it was about reason and emotion and dealt with both concepts through a dialogue between the two seemingly opposing ideas. As the works developed, the coexistence of the two in the same context was questioned. It was a fantastic experience, from the development of the pieces to the end of the exhibition, because of the affection I have for this collection as it was my first, the acceptance of the works, the relationship with the space and the aesthetic dialogue that was generated. It was an experience to which I will always hold a very special affection.
Besides illustration, what other art forms inspire you or influence your work?
I am interested in many artistic disciplines and find inspiration in many fields beyond art. Science interests me a lot. My father is a physicist, and he has somehow instilled in my brothers and me a certain passion for physics from a young age. I also use some physical concepts as language for some of my works, associating them with reflective or emotional concepts. Another field that is also very present in my work, regardless of the language I use, is architecture. Whether I use illustration, collage, painting or sculpture, the concept of space is very present in all of them.
Lastly, you recently opened Espacio Mondo in Seville. What inspired you to create this space and how did you envision it?
This project came about thanks to my colleagues and friends Natalia and Carlos. Both architects have a studio in common and I am currently sharing the space and the project with them. Beyond the concept of a workspace, Espacio Mondo has other functions as an art gallery and cultural meeting point for colleagues from sectors similar to ours.
This project was born out of a need we had, as professionals and art and design enthusiasts, for a space where we could carry out all those ideas that came up in meetings with friends. We are interested in carrying out projects together and, above all, Espacio Mondo is a space projected outwards. We are attracted by the idea that this space will serve to meet more professionals like us, that collaborations will arise and that we will provide mutual feedback through culture as a channel of communication.
