Jon Errazu:
Basque artist Jon Errazu currently calls the Catalan capital Barcelona his home, but for all intents and purposes his creative heart remains with his birthplace. Returning often to the Deba River-bound Soraluze, Errazu uses Chinese inks and acrylics to immerse himself into the calm nature of the Basque landscapes and explores the solitude provided by its vast mountains.
Guiding his audience through a mist-filled scene, Errazu provides a glimpse into the introspection his native land provides. The contemplation of nature's grandeur and the mysterious allure of his mountains, inky lakes, and horizons paint a picture put together to enrich the human soul.
A limited series of Errazu’s work will be on display at our Pop-Up Gallery exhibition from December 2nd to December 31st in Barcelona, to learn more about the event please click here.
What themes and ideas inspire you in your art?
What process of creating a work of art is most unique or important to you?
From something abstract, I have moved on to something more landscape-like. In terms of plastic art, I do look at natural landscapes. In principle, I'm always thinking about the same things: introspection, the self, solitude, .... metaphysics after all.
In any process everything is important, whether it's building a machine, cooking or making a painting. From thinking about what you are going to do, to how you have to do it, everything is important. For example the "Stones" or "Black Mountains" are more restful, I like to start by giving them many layers of watered down acrylic. Layers that in the case of "Black Mountains" are not going to be seen, but for me they are very important, the bedrock is already created. In "Paisaiak" it's a different story, spilled Indian ink, more action, I have to know very well what I want to do before starting to do it.
What materials, techniques or medium do you prefer to use in your artwork and why?
I paint on canvas and the materials I use are acrylic paint and gels, gesso, charcoal, Chinese ink ....
How do you think your style and creative approach will evolve over time?
The work itself carries me along. I don't worry about it. I don't care about evolution. What I know is that in 20 years' time I won't be the same as I am now, just as I'm not the same now as I was 20 years ago, so my work will change. Where or how? I don't know.
Art in all its expressions is fundamental for humans. It is consumed a lot, we are surrounded by art. From cinema or music in our homes or outside, to mass attendance at museums. Entertaining, moving, transmitting ideas, thoughts.... everything is going to enrich the human being.
What role do you think art plays in today's society?
How do your personal or life experiences influence your art?
With time one changes and so do one's personal relationships with the environment. I'm sure it influences reflection, but whether it influences the work itself, I'm not so sure.
How do you evaluate the success or the effect of your artwork on the public?
In the end I paint for myself. If the public identifies with what you do, it's a gift. And then for the public to buy your work is a double gift. As an anecdote: years ago, at an exhibition of "Stones", an Australian came up to me and thanked me because one of the pieces reminded him of his country (I have not been to Australia, nor did I intend to represent anything of that country). That's success.
What challenges have you encountered in your creative process and how have you dealt with them?
Those inherent to painting. Trying out new materials leads you to paint in one way or another. Painting with India ink (Paisaiak) is not the same as painting with acrylic (Stones, Black Mountains), the activity and speed is not the same. Using drawing elements such as Indian ink or charcoal as "paint" creates headaches, but they are very nice challenges. The fact of painting and thinking about what you are painting is a fabulous sensation.
Is there a special project or work that you would like to highlight or share with the public?
The projects or series of works are all special. Then in each series, for me, there is a painting that is more important/special than another, as it is a turning point from which I start to begin another series. For example, OF11 (first image on the right), which can be seen in the exhibition, is from the series "Paintings" and is the work that marks the starting point of the following series "Stones". A "Stones" led to a "Black Mountains" and so on to the "Paisaiak" series.
What future projects or ideas do you plan to materialise in your art?
There are always new thoughts. Right now I'm working on the "Paisaiak" series (although I'm also doing some "Black Mountains" and "Stones") but, as I said before, we'll see where it takes me. There is a possibility that I might make a leap from canvas to wood, but we'll see, time will tell, step by step.
