@javier.maratea

Instagram: @javier.maratea Facebook: www.facebook.com/bolsadeconsorcio Website: www.bolsadeconsorcio.com.ar  

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

Hello! My name is Javier Maratea. I'm an Argentinian drawer/painter born in the 80's.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

Well, I'm not sure I have just one. I really enjoy mixing and experiencing with different styles and materials either for my figurative or abstract drawings.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I don't really have a favourite medium (I guess this is like “your mother or your father” question hahaha). I can handle graphite/ink/acrylic paintings better than others, so I guess those are my favourite ones.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I would have to say it's pretty “natural”. I have no rituals or established modes (or moods) to operate. Sometimes I have an idea for a drawing or some colours I prefer to use for a painting and there it starts (usually the result is far away from that primal idea). I guess the process in between (the options and the decisions you take while working) is the interesting and educating thing.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

Who: Very talented (contemporary) people I know or follow in social media. What: Mostly: my unconscious mind. Less mostly, but still: my life, my environment, my family, the society I live in, the society we all live in.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I would have to say “art” is a big part of my life. I really enjoy producing it (If someone bear to say I do), I really enjoy consuming it. It is present in all my interests. Somehow Art gives me a role in society and in my social environment so I guess my work defines me (and that’s a lot!).

7. Where did you study?

I didn’t study Art formally. I studied Architecture in Buenos Aires University (I'm sure we agree considering architecture an art form but another type of art). After graduating I have done different drawing & painting and work analysis courses/seminars/workshops.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

It's hard to say. Probably in the same position I'm now. I don’t make a living with my art work, so I do it just for fun, because I enjoy it so much. Argentinean market isn't big enough so art commerce is pretty difficult here. “Artistically”? I don't know about that and that’s good! I really hope my work find its way to evolve and constantly change without asking me permission.

9. What about in ten?

“It's hard to say.” This one is even harder!

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

I hope my Art would affect some amount of people, I don’t know how much, but some. Depending on the day, sometimes I would like to transcend with my work (or that my work transcend for itself), some other times I realize that’s no use apart of feeding my ego and I’m back on earth.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Since I was a little boy I grew up hearing my uncle's funny sayings (*). One of those, that really applies in this case, is: “Comida!: Mi plato favorito” (Food!: My favourite dish) *Carlitos.

12. Favourite book?

Hard to say! I have had several discussions with a friend of mine (*) that has the ability to rank or “top 5” everything in his life, arguing that I don’t have a brain for that. I read books or watch movies or hear songs and like them or not, a lot or more or less, but I can't rank them. *Ale. Either way I would try to say: “Cien años de Soledad.” Gabriel García Márquez

13. Favourite genre of music?

Rock.

14. What are your hobbies?

Drawing and painting.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

Let me say that: I'm not an artist and if I weren’t an architect, I really don’t know if I would be an artist. Perhaps a surgeon (fixing humans, that’s a profession!) Curated by @inspiracion.pattern.ar, Ballpitmag curator for Buenos Aires Argentina