The magic of the everyday: Interview with Alejandra Marroquín
Thanks to her grandfather and her admiration for her sister, Alejandra decided to explore and exploit her creativity.
Alejandra Marroquín and her work bring us closer to the beauty of the everyday, to the simplicity of a good after-dinner conversation with our most beloved people and to the Mediterranean. Since we see that art is the place where it moves like 'Peix' in the water ;D (read on and you will understand the wink). We invite you to know more about Alejandra and everything that moves her creative world.
Tell us about yourself and your work. Where did your vocation start? Any first memories?
My name is Alejandra, I'm 21 years old and I'm from Alicante, although I currently live in Madrid. I think my first memory of painting was when my grandfather gave my sister and me a box of paints that they sold in the newspaper as a promotional gift. Adri, my older sister, has always been a great painter and I have always wanted to be as good as her.
What do you find most satisfying about your work, and is there anything you are particularly proud of?
What I find most satisfying about my work is seeing it evolve. Having a painting in my hands that I did many years ago and that I remember hating at the time, and yet now I adore, and no matter how hard I try to recreate it again or something similar, it would be a totally different piece. Through my paintings I leave a kind of "trace" that is conditioned by who inspires me at that particular moment, what I hear, where I live, who is in my environment... etc. It is magnificent to see how everything outside influences me unconsciously (or not so unconsciously hahaha).
Without a doubt, my favourite work will always be the one with the hand holding the glass, from the series of AleVale. It is the one I currently have as my profile picture and it is the first painting I did when I arrived at my first painting studio. I am very fond of it and I could risk saying that it is the one that has attracted the most public attention, although I have never considered selling it.
What is your creative process like, what are your sources of inspiration, any particular music while working?
I would define my creative process as an accumulation of emotions, which suddenly explode and transform into a frame with canvas and paint on the support. "What are your sources of inspiration? What a nice question. I love to talk about my references, I think they define very well who I am today and my journey as an artist. Here I go: Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Rothko, Palma Alvariño, Inès Longevial, Chloe Wise, Shannon Cartier Lucy, Sam Adoquei, Unai Cardoner and Domenico Gnoli... among many others.
As for the music I listen to, when I'm painting I usually play my playlist in the studio. La Eléctrica Estudio. It was the name of my first painting studio and I add songs weekly.
Favourite colour, book, film and record - in that order! ;D
Viridian green.
Woman in red on a grey background of Borges.
The New Abnormal of the Strokes.
Is your home a reflection of who you are? Tell us what it smells like, your favourite corner, your favourite decorative object or piece of furniture, if you treasure a collection... And if you have a pet, introduce it to us!
I would say no, my home is not a reflection of who I am. For family reasons I suppose that my life has taken more turns than usual and I have never felt the concept of home in a specific place. Perhaps I would sum up my childhood in the house in Campello and the beloved Horteta. But, regardless of that, I will answer your questions. I guess my room smells like my cologne. Carolina HerreraI would put my money on rugs or candles, and as for my pets, they are called Vela and Peix, they are as good and cuddly as can be!
If you could buy anything right now and take it home, what would it be? Anything!
Chloe Wise's book and a Longevial Inès, but without hesitation!
A great plan at home always includes...
A loudspeaker and a bottle of wine. Masks off hahaha.
Do you have a signature dish?
As the people around me know well: chicken in pepitoria with fried egg.
Where is your favourite place in your city and abroad?
In my city: the Plaza de Gabriel Miró. My people are always there. Abroad: I suppose I would highlight the mythical New York and Paris, but my third choice would be Florence, which is currently one of the cities that has caught my attention the most.
Anything you want to tell us that we haven't asked you, speak now or forever hold your peace!
I'm organising my first solo exhibition, with a very interesting collection that will revolve around the tabletop, probably to be held in Madrid around June at 'Cinco Tejas', c/ Santa Ana 29, and I hope to see you all there! But in the meantime, you can also see my pieces on display at c/Almirante 5 in Madrid. They will be there until the end of the month, before launching this first exhibition.
