Process-driven, space-related, compositional – Harmony.
Name
Paul Anton
Profession
Spaceographist
Website
Who are you? What do you do?
I am an architect and an artist trying to deal with spatial relations that is why I tend to say I am an spaceographist (even if that word doesn’t exist quite yet) were my architecture and my art meet. Also I am an illustrator, together with my wife we do illustrations and calligraphy for events, mainly for wedding stationary.
Where are you from?
I am from Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. But I’ve been living in London for the past four years and I plan to move next year to Madrid. I’ve also lived in Canada. I don’t care much about people’s origin to be honest. All the people no matter where they are coming from or where they are going are great in a way, you just have to discover their amazingness by getting to know them.
Your style in 3 words?
Process-driven, space-related, compositional – Harmony.
Your weakness? Your strength?
Weakness: I am too intense and obsessed with my research. I find it difficult to disconnect and rest sometimes.
Strength: I am social. I talk to people. I learn from people. I am not afraid of showing my real “me” and knock doors. I don’t pretend to be who I am not.
What makes you different?
I am not different.
When did you decide to become an artist?
In the beginning I kept on saying I am an architect and I also do art. Then I switched to saying “I am an artist” when I quit my job last October at Foster and Partners to do a Master in Fine Art at University of the Arts London (ual). I also do illustrations, am I an illustrator then? It is hard to say really when you have to state your identity but taking into account what Ernst Gombrich said “There really is no such thing as Art. There are only artists.” then I have always been an artist.
What do you find most fascinating about your work?
As I said earlier my practice is process-driven. That means that I evolve through the process and most of the time I don’t get to a final piece. What I show, let’s say on an art exhibition/gallery, is my process. Therefore this back-and-forth aptitude is what fascinates me. How my work could be infinite in time and I can always work more and that would lead me into a sub-process… it is never-ending, it is wonderful.
A few words about your favourite creation?
The Arkitektons series deal with the relationships between Form and Matter in Space. The generation of the form derives from the line, it is later materialized and its interaction with the surrounding space becomes the core of my practice.
I use this mark as both the foundation and the tool. My interpretation of this line goes beyond the drawing. It is what defines the form, what limits the matter, it is the surface that creates a spatial division and the bridge between form and matter. The stroke, full of character and meaning, activates spaces pulling the conceptual forms into absolute matter. My interest lies in forming a harmonic and composed process, arriving at an aesthetic expression.
Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…
I am lately looking a lot to artists like Fernanda Gomes or Angela de la Cruz. Artists that in my opinion deal with the space experience and the sculpture in the expanded field as Rosalind Krauss stated in 1979.
A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?
I am working a lot but for now the are just projects. I plan to get my hands to the ideas I have been thinking this coming October. I am not very reflexive and I tend to do a lot of stuff without thinking so this time I wanted to give me a break and think and read until October. It is going to be sculpture and drawings/paintings. I am researching about the line, the stroke, that mark full of character. But I never know were I am going to end and sometimes I even think I don´t know what I´m doing just yet.
Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“
my family. My real project is my family, my wife Bea and my daughter Manuela.
Do you have a vision?
My vision is to be able to keep researching on my ideas caring less about selling and the comercial part. It is tiring to always have to sell what you produce. It might be now just a vision but I will get there. May be a good gallery takes care of the selling in the future. I don’t need much to live anyway. Money is a necessity but it is so boring and empty to do things only because of money.
2017: Where are we going?
Everybody says we are going to a world of images through the hegemonic state of social media. But I think we are going to a world where we will look for spaces and for experiences through spaces.
Your city’s favourite spots?
I love Friday pints at Prince Albert Pub with my previous office (Foster + Partners) colleagues and friends. Friday drinks are a must on my daily life.
Tell us about your future plans…
I plan to move to Madrid when I finish my Master in Fine Art in London and rent a studio to keep producing and rese
Find out more about Paul Anton on Instagram
