q)Introduce yourself, name,age, location.
a)My name is Enrique del Val, I was born in 1979 in Oviedo , Spain Australia
although at the moment I'm located in Berlin
q) Can you describe your path to being an artist? When
did you really get into it?
a)I've always been into drawing. Since very little I'd draw over and
over the things I liked. I wanted to become a doctor though. It was only at
university studying Fine Arts that I started -and fell in love with- painting.
That was more than ten years ago. I've always painted and been involved in the
art scene since, but I'd say I'm more fully committed to my painting practice
since about 2009.
q) Describe your ideals and how they manifest in your
work.
a)My ideal is that life is magic, that's what my work's always been
about. Breaking through the convencionalities of the world and of painting and
unlocking the magic possibilities of life. I see positive emotions and untamed
discernment as the keys to make that leap.
q) Is music a part of your studio time? What do you
listen to?
a)I sometimes listen to music when I paint. If I do, I like the
song-writers like L Cohen, the Cuban Silvio Rodriguez, Van Morrison, also
classic music and depending on the mood punk-rock. I've lately been into Edith
Piaff. Music helps me to open up and keep my emotions warm. The problem is that
I can lose touch with what's really going on on the painting.
q) How would you describe your work to someone?
a)I find so difficult to tell people about my work that I made a website
with my pictures and I encourage paople who ask me to have a look. Although my
practice is very important for me I like talking lightly about it with the
people I feel most comfortable with.
q) Influences?
a)Rembrandt has been in my mind for a long time. And so it has Francis
Bacon. Today I look at painters like Peter Doig and Daniel Richter. I see a lot
of art and I consider myself an sponge and I like it. Other influences may
include the Rolling Stones, García Márquez, Silvio Rodriguez, movies such as
Clockwork Orange
q) Describe your process for creating new work.
a)The sources of my own work are my own experiences and stories. So
until recently I've been using photographs that I usually take, to create my
paintings. Lately I've been feeling a bit constricted by the photos, so I'm
intending to work more and more from sketches and memory. Like many artists do,
I work on a painting and tend to get obsessed with it. Then I need to put some
distance between my mind and the painting and after some time has passed I
decide whether it needs more work or it is fully functional and autonomous, in
which case it is ready for the world.
q) What advice do you have for artists looking to show
their work?
a)Facebook with its many dangers is a good platform to display your
work. I don't know, I am aware of the tension between wanting your work to
reach as many people as possible and on the other hand not wanting to be pushy
or indiscreet, I think that struggle it's a very common phenomenon nowadays.
q) What are you really excited about right now?
a)I'm excited about being in Berlin and
spending more time in Europe after a decade in Australia
q) What do you love most about where you live?
a)Australia Berlin
q) Best way to spend a day off?
a)Best way to spend a day off? Doing something without believing I shall
be doing something else.
q) Upcoming shows/ projects?
I'm in this trip open for new projects, exhibitions, collaborations to
come in Europe . I'll be back in Australia
q) Where can people see more of your work on the
internet?
