When the norm is to create without norms: Interview with Adriana Eskenazi
With her, everything can be fleeting and changeable... except her love for gastronomy, which often grounds her ideas and gives meaning to everything she does. Discover her vision and her passion in this interview.
We don't know if Adriana (@adrianaeskenazi On Instagram, they paint plates or cook images because their ability to blend disciplines and recreate stories is astonishing. Their work breathes freedom, transgression, and restlessness. There are no rules.
Tell us about yourself and your work. Where did your vocation start? Any first memories?
Even as a child I was very curious and constantly questioned my surroundings. If you add to that a culturally active father and mother with whom you established some role models, then you have it.
What do you find most satisfying about your work?
The best thing is the expressive freedom it gives me. I can't do whatever I please because there's usually a client involved, but working in this field has allowed me to explore other disciplines that I mix with photography, and in my free time, I can dedicate myself to this wandering. Basically, what I like most about my job is what I can apply from it in my free time.
What is your creative process like, what are your sources of inspiration, any particular music while working?
It depends a lot. There's no set rule. With photography, I've always been very concerned with trying to recreate stories and racking my brains inventing them, now I look for real situations. Social media, advertising, and image in general are full of Fakes. Instead, when I paint photos or just paint, I invent non-stop, but almost always revolving around gastronomy. I mix furniture with food, with the names of restaurants I like, and with things I'm thinking about at that moment. The music depends on the era, but for a while now I've had Les Baxter on repeat.
Favourite colour, book, film and record - in that order! ;D
Impossible for me to have favourites. All favourites change according to the moment (even people) but things that have been with me forever, suffering slight variations, would be blue; Pedro Páramo, by Juan Rulfo; My Uncle, de Jacques Tati; and the record Protection Massive Attack.
Is your home a reflection of who you are?
Not my house, but the things in it, especially the books and paintings. I've lived in rented accommodation my whole life, so I end up adapting things from one house to another, and although the shell matters a lot, what really speaks about you is how and with what you live in it (even what you have in the fridge).
If you could buy anything right now and take it home, what would it be? Anything!
How complicated… it would surely be the keys to a house in Empordà! 🙂
A great plan at home always includes...
A good red wine and some food.
Do you have a signature dish?
I love cooking (hence my —obsession— with painting food) and, although I have a star dish —a potato parmentier with poached egg and prawn heads—, lately I've been really into pasta with sardines and capers.
Where is your favourite place in your city and abroad?
My mother's house, on Carretera de les Aigües. It’s verrry difficult to stay with one abroad, but I always remember Hong Kong with special fondness.
