Satellite Voices

Santiago / Español

Fran Aldea

February 7, 2012

From dinky illustrations to the Museo de Bellas Artes, the up-and-coming illustrator is popping up all over Santiago

• Text by Fer Munizaga

Fran Aldea is one of those illustrators that transmits an ingenuity and sense of humour through her work. A multi-talented illustrator, she also designed fabric patterns for national lifestyle stores like Casa&Ideas, Falabella and Ripley. Fran Aldea's personal projects are what you should be looking out for though - check out her artwork, kitchenware and other utensils on the blog Tres Bocados.

Satellite Voices: When did you realise that illustration was your thing?
Fran Aldea: Actually, I don’t know if it is my thing, but it makes me happy. I think it’s a phase, before it was piano, now it is drawing. It could be something else later on. I wouldn’t like to continue doing what I do now for the next five years.

SV: What inspires you to illustrate?
Fran Aldea: The absurd, music, movies, books, tours and travels, sadness, failure, fun, my friends and the fascinating inner world of my brother Tomas.

SV: How would you define your style?
Fran Aldea: My work is kind of bi-polar. There are some simple drawings that can take me only a couple of minutes. Others are more complex and a bit obsessive. It always mutates, it is very circumstantial. But I always try that they get recognised by the humour, colour and stroke.

SV: What was the most important recognition that you have had?
Fran Aldea: These last years have been very good. Having the chance to work in places were they believe in what you do is the best recognition. Winnig awards is never bad, but for me recieving emails with congratulations, job offers, special orders, authorisation to publish a picture in a book or a Like on Facebook is much more important and makes me even happier.

SV: Tell us about your projects, in what are you now?
Fran Aldea: I am going to the ambient exhibition in Frankfurt to see new products, assembling a kitchenware and textile collection for both stores in the Museo de Bellas Artes and for the Museo de la Memoria of Santiago, and ending the spring summer 2013 collection of Marquis Home, a brand from a big local retail store.