ALEJANDRO PINTADO is an artist born in Mexico City. His paintings investigate the historical memory of landscape. He researches and transforms the works by artists such as Claude Lorraine (1600-1682), Mortitz Rugendas (1802-1858) and José María Velasco (1840-1912) and contrasts them with contemporary forms. His studio feels like a cross between a library and a visual experimentation lab. His work is housed across collections in Mexico, England, Spain, France and Russia. I got to ask him a few questions while visiting his studio.
WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN AND FROM WHOM?
Its hard to think of which is the best advice without thinking of any subject in particular, but if I would think about art I could say that one would be by my first painting teacher at Art School. He said to the whole group after finishing 1st year: Now that you have accomplished everything in this year, I can say to you that you are like soldiers prepared for the war, what you have learned you have learned don’t think too much about the decisions you have to make for now, just do them. In the battlefield there is no time to hesitate, believe in your selves and what you have become. Check out the full story on wheretheycreate.com
WHAT MINDSET/MOOD DO YOU MAKE YOUR BEST ART/WORK?
It depends on the work I have to do in the studio but if the work is about developing new ideas, the best is to get to the studio early in the morning, grab a coffee and sit in front of an idea wall with selected photos, drawings or texts to join the dots in order to make visual con conceptual content for a new work.
WHAT TOOLS OR OBJECTS OR BOOKS, ARE INDISPENSABLE IN HELPING YOU CREATIVE OR THINK.
I think it would have to be: peacefulness at the studio in terms of noise, a good coffee, good music and an empty note book for sketches and ideas.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO FIND IN YOUR SPACE?
You would be surprised by the architecture and the light of the space, since from the outside there is nothing that reflects what is inside of the studio.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL WORKSPACE IN THREE WORDS…
Sunny, high ceilings, peaceful.
FAVOURITE SONG/BAND PODCAST WHILE WORKING?
I change a lot depending on what I am doing at the time, but I can say that recently I have been listening to deep house, and specially mixes of songs from the 80s
Where They’ is a visual documentation of the creative environments of artist & people, that meet during my travels, of homes and studios.
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