Jesús Madriñán (London, UK)

Hailing from Spain, Jesús Madriñán was originally born in a little Galician city called Santiago de Compostela in 1984. Four years ago, he moved to Barcelona where he finished a degree studies in Fine Arts in the University of Barcelona (Design and Image Route). After finishing the degree he started freelancing as a young artist afte attracting curators with his website resulting in numerous exhibition offers.

Having shown his work in several exhibitions back in Spain, amongst giving talks about photography and teaching an artist workshop in the University of A Coruña, he then began studying an MA in Communication Design at Central Saint Martins in London. After exhibiting at the "We are Arts" Gallery at Central Saint Martins and "The Gallery" at the London College of Communication, he has bagged himself a place as one of the lucky few belonging to the selection of artists that Nokia promotes from its platform to support art and young artists called Qualid.

WHAT'S
...your work all about?
I have always thought that the purest art that can exist is the human being itself, because if art is created by and for men, I believe that the clearest and most basic art form could be each and everyone of us. That is why I have always loved to take the intimacy
and reality of each person, of life itself, and turn it into art. I am therefore working in series in which the characters are showed in a psychological way, always finding a link between them and the space they are in. They are lonely characters, melancholic but beautiful, absent-minded, as if they were imbued with silence or deep loneliness. A non-action that allows me to open doors to a lot of meanings, by creating a cold environment and an oppresive atmosphere. Scenarios where it seems to be no danger, but drama or human emotion is being intensely lived within the character. Frozen moments that unveil real-life stories for everyone else to fill in.

...the one photograph you wish you'd created?
Actually what I wish I had created it is not a photograph, it is a painting. I am very interested in the mix between photography and painting, and I would have loved to paint any piece of Émile Friant, for example "La douleur".

...the world coming to?
The world is coming to be the biggest advertisement in history.

...the most important thing for an artist to remember?
Stopping to think is the best way to waste time.

...the most inspiring thing you've ever seen?
A nightclub full of lonely boys.

..the cleverest thing you've ever done?
Dropping out of Law and choosing Fine Arts instead.

...the stupidest thing you've ever done?
I think that moment has not arrived yet.

...what's next?
That is a good question... I often wonder that too. For now I want to continue learning and improving my skills as a photographer. It is also important to keep exhibiting your work; the more you show it the more opportunities come up.

...the point?
For me art is just like talking, it is expressing something without words. My work comes from my personal experiences, which I turn into thoughts that I need to express. The point of all this is not feeling mute.

Describe what beauty means to you?
Beauty is anything that produces a visual or spiritual pleasure; it could be an image or a kiss.

What do you prefer - black & white or colour?
The use of colour is very important in my photographs, just as it is in a painting.

What equipment/film do you use? What do you like about what you use?
I used to work with digital, but now I am starting to use an analog 4x5 field camera. It is easier and faster to work with digital, but I like to print my photographs large. Working with film is the best way to get the best quality; even if you have a good digital camera you still getting that fuzzy effect in the final print. For my work it is also important the lighting set up; I love how you can change every space or model depending on how you light them up.

Who/what are your influences - art/film/literature/other photographers?
Artists like Félix González-Torres and Sophie Calle have always interested me because they make everyday moments worthy of being used as key elements in their work. I could cite many others for similar reasons: Tina Barney, Marlene Dumas, Nan Goldin, Angela Strassheim, Rineke Dijkstra ...

Are you exhibiting anywhere soon?
Some weeks ago I exhibited my last series in a solo exhibition at Central Saint Martins' "We are Arts" Gallery. Currently I am exhibiting at the MACUF, a Contemporary Art Museum in La Coruña, Spain.

Do you have a website or blog?
www.jesusmadrinan.com