Building with brushes: Interview with Bea Sarrias
In this interview she tells us how her vocation was born, what inspires her to work and what a home portrait photographer's home is like.
Due to our activity, at Monapart we work every day with images of houses: photographs, renderings, plans... But we are not used to seeing architectural portraits. And just like with good portraits, the painting of Bea Sarrias manages to capture the soul of the constructions that are the protagonists of his works.
Tell us about yourself and your work. Where did your vocation start? Any first memories?
I always remember me with a pencil in my hand. My father used to get a kick out of buying me those red ENRI pads. He used to tell me that he would buy me a new one once I had "filled" all the pages. Besides, I'm the youngest of seven siblings, I'm 7 years older than the one I'm closest to. When they were studying, the only way I could be with them was if I was quiet... that only happened when I was painting!
What do you find most satisfying about your work, and is there anything you are particularly proud of?
I put the best of myself into all my work at the time. Perhaps the ones I am happiest about are the ones I have done with my husband, Morrosko Vila-San-Juan. He is a filmmaker and we have managed to make pictorial-audiovisual projects. Sometimes he has made a documentary part of the project as in INSIDEI did a mural in 2019 for the NATO headquarters in Brussels and in others we have complemented each other, such as "Un día en La Ricarda", on a house by the architect Antonio Bonet Castellana or "La Cima", on an abandoned house by the architect José Antonio Coderch.
We are currently working on a building designed by architect Manuel Baldrich, the current headquarters of Santa&Cole. Hopefully the project will see the light of day in September.
What is your creative process like?
I don't paint spaces, I portray them. My painting revolves around architecture. For me architecture is the tool to be able to paint light.
First I document an architect or space, then I choose the images and the format of the painting. This process is the longest, but without it I don't manage to capture the soul of the space I am going to portray. I usually paint several paintings at the same time, there comes a time when I have to decide to finish them and not start a new one. Starting a painting is the most exciting part for me.
"I don't paint spaces, I portray them. For me, architecture is the tool to be able to paint light.
Favourite colour, book and record - in that order!
White.
Wreath of flowersby Javier Calvo (edited by Random House Literature)
The soundtrack of Blade Runner.
Is your home a reflection of who you are? Tell us about your favourite corner, your favourite piece of furniture... And if you have a pet, introduce it to us!
My house does not reflect who I am. My favourite places are the forest and the sea. Open spaces. My favourite piece of furniture is the Rietveld chair, given to me by my brother who is an architect.
I have a grey rabbit that runs around the house like a cat 🙂 I have a grey rabbit that runs around the house like a cat 🙂 I have a grey rabbit that runs around the house like a cat.
If you could buy anything right now and take it home, what would it be? Anything!
To a friend or a plane ticket.
A great plan at home always includes...
Friends and good food. Lots of laughs.
Do you have a signature dish?
Gazpacho and fideuá. One day I cooked fideuá for Leopoldo Pomés, he told me it was the best he had ever tasted... I think I was especially lucky that day.
Where is your favourite place in your city and abroad?
I like Barcelona a lot. The best thing is to get lost. I discover iconic buildings in every corner of the city.
New York is one of the cities I have most enjoyed looking at 360º. You don't finish it.
Anything you want to tell us that we haven't asked you, speak now or forever hold your peace!
My painting focuses on architecture, especially iconic architecture. This type of architecture is the best tool for painting light. My work is constantly evolving. I started painting only interior spaces, with a very reduced colour palette and little by little I have been going "outside" until I have been painting the landscape surrounding the architecture and I have been adding colour.
If you are interested in architecture, painting, or both disciplines together, enter the Bea Sarrias's website to get to know all his work.
