“COLOR Y EMOCIÓN” BY MARIONA ESPINET

As an interior designer, Mariona has always worked in the field of architecture and design. However, in her artistic practice, she dares to go beyond shape and volume to focus on the emotions that colours have the potential to convey.

With a carefully crafted geometric lexicon and an intricate palette, Mariona’s paintings not only aim to interact with the viewers but also with the space in which they reside.

We look forward to welcoming you soon to ‘Color y Emoción’, Mariona Espinet’s solo exhibition, which will be on view at Plácido y Grata Hotel from October 4th until the end of the month.

What inspired you to explore painting?
My passion for colour has been an essential part of my creativity. I believe in the psychology of colour and how it can speak to us and evoke certain emotions, connecting us with our inner life; our souls.

Throughout my career as an interior designer, my interiors have always been filled with colour. That’s how I started painting, when I wasn’t allowed to use colour to the fullest in those spaces, so instead, I proposed adding a touch of colour to the homes with my canvases. As of today, I devote myself entirely to painting; it’s a refuge to unleash my most enthusiastic, transformative and artisanal side.

Besides a great sensitivity towards colour, there’s also an appreciation for space. How do you combine your practice in interior design and painting?
In both practices, I primarily focus on the home, “places for being.” Unlike architecture, painting allows me to create a space removed from the tangible weight of architecture and I can experiment with more fluid materialities that are connected to those emotions that shapes, volume, and colours evoke.

In my opinion, art and interior design complement each other. Art is an extension of design; both aim to provide harmony, beauty and comfort to the person living in any space, ultimately improving their quality of life.

How did you approach your recent exhibition at Plácido y Grata?
It served me as an opportunity to present my new collection, in which I challenge the geometric hardness that’s characteristic of my works, taking it to a greater level of experimentation with significant creative freedom. I refer to a flexibility similar to textiles, making random strokes with oil paint, allowing for improvisation inherent to the creative process and embracing imperfections. I accept and embrace the unexpected, surprising myself with what emerges.

I will also exhibit some pieces from my earlier collections to understand the evolution and see the common thread in my work – colour and shapes, geometry and creating a pleasant space.

How do you feel your works interact with the exhibition space in the hotel?
I like the combination because the hotel is like a blank canvas; a neutral, elegant space filled with light and sensitivity where my works add a touch of energy and colour, resulting in a contrast that turns out very harmonious.

How would you describe your studio practice?
The word that best defines it is “flow”. I don’t have a routine or set schedule. I enter my studio and start working. I don’t have sketches or drawings in mind when I start new collections. I usually go with the flow and see what emerges, and the results are usually positive. When I have commissions, a fundamental part of my work is creating the colours, adapting my designs to fit the commissioned works perfectly into the space they will occupy.

Another essential aspect is nurturing my creativity and inner life. This comes from within, and the most important thing is to believe in oneself. Creating without fear of failure is very challenging, but it’s what allows me to progress as an artist, step out of my comfort zone, and be honest with myself.

What are the artistic influences, figures or movements that have had the most impact on your career?
My work is heavily influenced by my career as an interior designer. I’ve been surrounded by design since I was a child, and it has always been my passion. My abstract-style compositions evoke some influence from 20th-century art movements such as Constructivism, Suprematism or Neoplasticism. I’m also greatly influenced by the renowned designer Ettore Sottsass. I feel very inspired by his creations based on shapes and his totemic sculptures and drawings.

Is there any upcoming project you can tell us about?
I do have a project in mind: expanding my paintings beyond the mere canvas, turning them into decorative objects for the home, such as lamps, fabrics or rugs.

What inspires you about the city of Seville, where we can see your work this October?
Seville makes me feel joy. My works consist of colour bursts and combinations of organic and geometric shapes that remind me of Moorish-style architecture. Even the combination of assorted colours in my paintings can evoke the typical traditions and folklore typical of Seville.