Artists in Motion. Miren Asiain Lora: “I like to create climates, atmospheres and/or sensations. I prefer to leave my work open to interpretation.”
Miren was born in 1988 in Pamplona, Spain and now lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated in Fine Arts from the University of the Basque Country, attending her final year in Buenos Aires. Her work has been shown in several exhibitions in Spain, Argentina and Mexico. She has created posters for various musical and theatrical projects and festivals, as well as a project-image for Amnesty International. In 2012 her book Hara, written and illustrated by her, won the Etxepare Illustrated Album Award. In 2013 she was a finalist for the Euskadi prize for Literature; in 2015 she was awarded the "Iberoamérica Ilustra" award from SM Foundation, The Ilustradero and the Guadalajara International Book Fair (Mexico). Her works convey the magic of everyday life, the charm of little moments that hold a secret to be deciphered.
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How did you start your career? What inspired you?
I’ve always liked drawing, like everybody else, what happened is that I really loved it and never stop doing it. I always knew this is what I wanted to do.
How was your childhood?
I had a peaceful childhood, I used to play by myself, I think that’s how I developed my imagination. My parents like to draw, it was just a natural thing to do at home.
What artists/things inspire you?
Everything could inspire me, I’m a very observant person, I enjoy contemplating what is around me. Regarding artists, right now I enjoy exploring social media, it is a great tool to discover new works, I use it a lot and I love when I find things that move me, but I also get inspired by classic artists.
How is your work place like?
Right now I have my studio at home. It’s a room with a huge table where I allow chaos to reign when is necessary. I also like to have plants around me, my own work and other artists’ work.
Do you have a work routine?
Because I work at home, I work when I feel the need to, that’s why it’s actually really hard for me to stop working! I start very early in the morning until very late at night.
What do you want to communicate in your work?
It’s hard to define it in a few words, I do find in my work a common denomination: I like to create climates, atmospheres and/or sensations. I prefer to leave my work open to interpretation.
How would you define your style?
It’s hard to define, I wouldn’t feel identified with a particular style. I feel my work is a mixture of my ideas, my experience, and what flows when I am drawing.
Your illustrations emphasizes every day life, the magic of little moments, It also has an extremely beautiful attention to detail, tell us why.
Everyday life is something that always interested me, something I care about. I like to observe what’s around me, it’s very important, it’s more than enough. It’s actually a way of life and I believe that is reflected in my illustrations.
Did moving from Spain to Argentina influence your work?
I used to be surrounded by mountains and nature, and now I live in a flat big city, where people don’t know each other, it’s very different from the place I grew up. I enjoy these two places in different ways and they generate a nostalgic feeling that I reflect in my work.
Tell us about your artwork “On Ostrich”
I wanted to create a dream-like atmosphere. In fact, the character has certain traits of mine, but she isn’t me, like when you see yourself in a dream, you are yourself but you don’t exactly look like you.
Why is important to have art at home?
Here I can give you infinite answers. To have an artwork you like at home changes your life, it inspires you and encourages your imagination to travel. In my childhood, I used to stare for hours to the paintings on my aunt’s wall, it was something I loved to do, I would look at the paintings for hours trying to discover new things.
What are your plans for the future?
This year it’s been very productive and, fortunately, I'm working on several projects. I enjoy doing different things, I like to challenge myself with new ventures, that’s why it is hard for me to imagine where the future is going to take me.
Interview: Karina Miller
Photos: Itziar Txarterina
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