NATALIA GONZALEZ MARTIN

NATALIA Tell me about your artist story. How were you trained? Tell me about your journey to where you are now?

I came to London at the age of 17 to study Fine Art at City & Guilds of London Art School. Before that, I had had traditional training and it was really refreshing to see a more contemporary approach here in London. After university, I undertook a couple of residencies and participated in different group shows. Alongside my practice I founded @ Subsidiary Projects, a platform to showcase the work of emerging artists and curators.

I LOVE SUBSIDIARY PROJECTS! SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. SO, What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a new series which will see the light by the end of this year. The works are inspired in different martyrs and saints with contemporary elements, I have been exploring the idea of religious symbols through time and how they translate to our current reality. The works are highly descriptive and are filled with anachronisms making them hard to pin in a specific time and place.

INCREDIBLE - SO What would be your dream project?

I am really interested in the Romanesque representation of the human figure and the symbols they used to communicate with the people. I would love to travel around Europe, focusing on Spain, France and Italy, to gather visual imagery - My dream project would be to recreate a contemporary temple adapting those images to more contemporary narratives.

What is your studio like? Where do you like to create best? What are your artist necessities? What could you not live without?

I have had several studios throughout the years, I recently set up a studio in my own apartment as I find I work best in a familiar calm and isolated environment. This has resulted in a very productive time for me, forcing me to create smaller more intimate works.

DO YOU LISTEN TO ANYTHING WHILE YOU WORK?

I know everyone says this, but my playlist is all over the place, and it touches all sorts of genres. I am especially inclined to traditional Mexican music which is also full of symbols and very strong imagery!

What does an average working day look like to you?

I work best at dawn when there are fewer distractions and the rest of the world is doing its own thing. During quarantine, I have found myself working until the AM, this has been a revelation and no one is sending emails or texting at that time and you can properly focus on painting.

Who or what are your biggest influences, and how do you find them? How do these come out in your work?

I was brought up looking at the great masters, and that has and will always be a huge influence, however, I have been trying to expand my horizons to discover less known artists who haven't been so represented in history. During Christmas, I was gifted a fantastic book called Great Women Artists by Phaidon, is such a fantastic collection containing some of the big names as well as some less known ones, truly eye-opening.

Every painting, sculpture, photograph or object that catches my attention appears in my work in one way or another, I am constantly borrowing images from all over and putting them together to create my own fiction.

NATALIA, WHICH 3 words would you use to describe your artwork ?

Delicate, symbolic, visceral

What do you want your work to say? What are the main themes and motifs running through your work? Is there a narrative that runs throughout?

My work has changed considerably over the years, I have been lucky enough to be able to explore large scale sculpture, installation and painting. It can be hard to find a common denominator as some of it is quite varied, however, looking back to it, a mystical, religious quality can always be found. The idea of the martyr has been a constant one, sometimes more obvious than others. I am now being more honest with my inspirations, allowing my personal history to play a part in my own work.

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

That I am not actually religious, I can go on and on about catholicism, as it has surrounded and fascinated my all my life but I am not actually a religious person myself.

If you could have a meal with any artist from any time, what would the meal be and who would it be with?

I have always been curious about Giovani Bellini, rather than a meal, I would like to watch him in action.

What is your greatest indulgence in life other than creating?

Baking, which is also very creative and physical.

Favourite historical female artist?

I adore Tamara de Lempika.

Favourite current practicing female artists and their Instagram handles?

@ henni Alftan (hennyalftan)
@ charlotte flamand (ch.flamand)
@ veronika pausova (veronikapausova)
@ mary wintour (marywintour1)
@ Emily Pettigrew (_emilypettigrew_)
@ Sydney Bowers (sydneybowersstudio)

Who should She Curates interview next and their Instagram handles?

@ Diane Dal-pra (dianedal_pra)
@ nettle grellier (nettlegrellierartist)
@ aglae bassens (aglae_bassens)