The land knows my steps

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?

I'm working on several series of handmade collages, a hat collection, some writing projects, and other ideas in development. It's been a very hectic month.

For now, I’m focused on a project that I’ll be presenting soon: a series of collages that function as fragments of a landscape, built through interventions with paper, pigments, and textiles. 

Lately, I’ve also been exploring analog photography. I'm interested in understanding how different media work to generate references, and in experimenting with various techniques and materials in the development of my work.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?

With collage, I’ve learned to let go of my obsessive side a little and allow myself to be guided by images, textures, and mistakes. I usually spend many hours on details, but I discovered that this technique allows me to disconnect and find a calm that I don’t always achieve with other media.

What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?

Observation, calm, understanding, movement, inhabiting.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?

Yes, a little bit of everything. I’ve always enjoyed having music, series, and cinema close by. Much of my work is connected to landscape, nature, and the relationship I establish with objects and materials.

I recently read El Hombre en el Jardín by Gilma Luque and highly recommend it. My go-to book is Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian, and the ones I currently keep on my desk are The Writer and His Ghosts by Ernesto Sabato, The Craftsman by Richard Sennett, and Gestos de aire y de piedra by Georges Didi-Huberman.

When working with magazine photographs, paper, and textiles, I find that music and films are often some of the influences that extend the most into my work. There are films that leave me with a desire to keep and treasure them for a long time: The Wind Will Carry Us by Abbas Kiarostami, Bandits of Orgosolo by Vittorio De Seta (along with some of his documentaries), and Céline by Jean-Claude Brisseau. Regarding music, this month I’ve had The Platters on repeat, Glen Campbell, Mina, Roscoe by Midlake, and Flores Astrais by Secos e Molhados, among others. The Wind Will Carry Usby Abbas Kiarostami, Bandits of Orgosoloby Vittorio De Seta (along with some of his documentaries), and Célineby Jean-Claude Brisseau. Regarding music, this month I’ve had The Platters on repeat, Glen Campbell, Mina; Roscoe by Midlake, and Flores Astrais by Secos e Molhados,, among others.

What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?

The pressure of deadlines and the speed at which I sometimes have to work often disrupts my usual rhythm, which is slower when I organize and analyze ideas. In a way, I think changing my pace is important to challenge new obstacles, develop skills, and also learn from what comes up.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?

I enjoy going to YAMA-TO in Monterrey on my birthday.I would recommend the INARI sushi with the Shoyu Ramen combo, which includes yakimeshi with meat and gyozas.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?

The land knows my steps. The soundtrack would probably include Gentle on my mind by Glen Campbell.

Recommend us an artist you follow who inspires you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.

Thanks to my sister, recently I’ve discovered more about Gerda Gruber’s work. I’ve always been interested in formative processes, manual practice, and sculpture, but although I’ve followed and admired several artists over the years, I hadn’t felt such a deep and motivating affinity as I do with her work and trajectory. I’m excited to continue exploring her assembly processes, as well as her curiosity about materials, knowledge, and production. Just this week, an exhibition opening in Monterrey reviews her 50-year career in Mexico, which I highly recommend attending.