"Art has been just something that I can rely on and that I can express my feelings and thoughts when they're really hard to communicate."
TUESDAY 4 JUNE 2024, CANTERBURY HIGH STREET, UNITED KINGDOM
Who are we talking to? Eva
Who is the interviewer? Gio
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GIO: Hello, Eva. I'm Giovanni. I'm going to ask you some questions today, starting off with what are you passionate about?
EVA: I would say I'm quite an artistic person. I like to express myself in many different ways, but painting is the one that's more centered in my life.
GIO: So when did you start painting? At what age did you start painting?
EVA: I always painted, but it wasn't something that I was that passionate about until I was around 12 years old. That's when I realised it's something that I really wanted to do for the rest of my life.
GIO: In five years' time now, where do you see yourself in terms of your creative outlet and your upstart?
EVA: Well, this year was my last year of uni and I'm in a moment of my life where my future is a bit uncertain, where I'm not really sure where I'll be. I would love to be in a place where I can live out of selling my art and getting residencies and things like that, but I guess we'll see with time where I'll be.
GIO: What do you hope for in the future?
EVA: Well, I would say that I would be very excited to get like the residencies I'm applying for and the fellowships. It would be kind of a proof that I can make a living out of being an artist and they're just really amazing opportunities that pay really well. So that would be great.
GIO: What are you gonna do after you graduate? Are you gonna stay in Spain or are you gonna stay in England?
EVA: I'm gonna stay here in the UK for another month and after that I'll go back to Spain to get some stuff sorted (laughs), like my driver’s license. Then I'm applying to some contests there because I would also like to be known in Spain and do some exhibitions, and after that it depends on what residencies I get, and that will be when I leave or where I live.
"I'm proud that I've been able to do so many exhibitions here. I'm proud about my dissertation because it was the highest grade I'd gotten on an essay."
GIO: Let's just step back from art real quick and just ask you some questions. Which is the better country, Spain or England?
EVA: That's such a hard question. I feel like both of them have amazing things. I love the weather in Spain. Of course, I love London. I feel like it's kind of close. Before in Spain, I lived on an island. So, I can't go to the big cities that easily. Like I can't go just to Madrid or Barcelona, I need to take a plane. So I really like that aspect. I like that because I was in art school I was surrounded by creative minds. I just met a lot of people that I really resonated with, so that was great. I would say that I can't really pick one. They both have their things.
GIO: Wow, I really thought you would choose Spain.
EVA: I would say Spain. So the weather is better but you get paid less. Jobs don't pay as well, but also living is more expensive here. It's just like a balance.
GIO: It is a balance.
EVA: Yeah.
GIO: Would you say the people you've met in England have changed your perspective on how you view this country?
EVA: I don't think I had bad prejudice coming here about the people in England. I'm really happy with who I met here, but I don't think coming to this country I was thinking, “Oh my god, I'm gonna meet some insane people.”
GIO: What would you say is your proudest accomplishment?
EVA: Yeah that's such a hard question because I feel like I'm a very critical person about my work and so everything that I create, I see the things that could be better or the imperfection. So nothing really meets my standards like that. But I would say I'm proud that I've been able to do so many exhibitions here. I'm proud about my dissertation because it was the highest grade I'd gotten on an essay and I'm passionate about the things that I was talking about.
GIO: What is something that's been on your mind recently?
EVA: Just what the future for me will look like. I feel like, now that I finished uni, just the uncertainty of what's to come. It's on my mind and I feel like it's also quite normal. Most of my friends that finished uni, they were going through the same thing when they were in their last year.
GIO: So what is something you dreamed about but haven't got to do?
EVA: I would say, the residency part. I have sold paintings, but just the idea of making a living out of my work. I would say they're like goals that I haven't really gotten there yet, but I would like to.
GIO: This is a weird question. But what types of food or drinks do you consume when you're making your art?
EVA: So the thing for me is that when I'm painting, I'm so hyper-focused on what I'm doing that I cannot be doing any other task. It's like I'm really “in the zone.” I remember one time I recorded myself painting and there was like this song that kept repeating itself and I didn't even notice because I was so concentrated on painting. (Laughs) And when I was watching the video it was so weird because the song just kept going and going and I didn't even realize. I was just so concentrated.
GIO: Would you say, you're in your zone?
EVA: Completely 100, I just get in my zone and nothing else is really there.
GIO: So who inspired you to do what you do now? Like who's that person, that figure in your life that said “Yo, you should do this and pursue it and go hard.”
EVA: When I was 12, I had an art teacher that really opened my eyes of what art could be and pushed me to create, and from there art has been just something that I can rely on and that I can express my feelings and thoughts when they're really hard to communicate. So it kind of serves as a crutch for me. So that's when I realized I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. And also he never put any type of barriers on what to create. I had like complete freedom so I could express myself however I wanted. So that felt really nice.
GIO: What is your day-to-day like? Do you have a routine?
EVA: I guess I end up having a routine when I'm in uni and things like that, but I'm also quite a bit of a chaotic person. Sometimes I have pretty bad insomnia, so my routine sometimes gets messed up because of that. So I guess my routine is a bit looser, especially now that we finished exams.
GIO: So, now that exams are done, you're gonna graduate. What are you gonna do this summer?
EVA: Yeah, so right now I'm just applying for residencies and fellowships, looking for jobs. Then I have to figure out how I'm gonna transport all my really big paintings to Spain because that's gonna be a pain, I think I have to take them down and do a whole thing. Then when I go back to Spain, I want to get my driver's license, because it's about time.
"When I was younger, biologist was always something that kind of went around in my head because I really enjoyed it."
GIO: Yeah, I mean you need (Laughs), we need to drive.
EVA: I need to drive. Especially like in the island where I live. The public transport is just so sh*t.
GIO: No, no, in Canterbury it is sh*t.
EVA: [On my island] it’s way worse. We have like one bus every hour or every two hours.
GIO: So it’s just like Canterbury but it’s worse. Being here has taught me that I need to drive because, especially all these hills you're walking on.
EVA: (Laughing) It’s because you go to Kent.
GIO: But I feel like your uni—
EVA: I'm fine.
GIO: You’re fine innit, oh, okay, well, I'm not fine. So I'll ask you one more question - what was your dream job as a child? I'm assuming your dream job is to paint art, right?
EVA: Actually, when I was younger, biologist was always something that kind of went around in my head because I really enjoyed it. But also an actress, which I did theatre for quite a few years, but after a while it just wasn't fun anymore, so I stopped doing it and painting kind of took over.
GIO: Oh my gosh, Eva. It was nice meeting you today, man.
EVA: Yeah, it was really nice to get interviewed.
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Photographers: Dante Richardson & Paolo
Photo editor: Dante Richardson
Photoshoot Assistants: Hyla Etame, Vanessa Mbeko, & Jolanda Oruni
Interview editor: Hyla Etame
