ALEJANDRA HERNANDEZ
How did you come to be an artist?
I started to draw a lot when I was a kid, like everyone else, but somehow it became a part of me, something I strongly identified with. I was constantly drawing, making comics, I loved to watch animations, mainly the ones on MTV from the 90s. I think it was my only way out and the only way I could really express myself. I was quite shy as a kid. All through my teens I thought I’d be a graphic designer since there are many designers in my family and I wanted to work with images. Then I heard about a career called Visual Arts. I went for it, got in, and I became in love with painting. That’s when I knew I wanted to live as an artist and I started taking it seriously.
IT’S HARD FOR
ME
TO
SEE MY WORK
AS SOMETHING STATIC
AS IT’S IN CONSTANT FLOW.
How would you describe your work?
It’s hard for me to see my work as something static, as it’s in constant flow and I guess it will change a lot during my lifetime. But some words that could describe it are bright, bold, colorful. My paintings and drawings are meant to connect with people, reflect experiences that many people can relate to, find the extraordinary in the ordinary. With the live portraits, I aim to connect with others and find grounding, with my other work I try to go deeper into the psyche and project my thought, fears, emotions and dwell into the unknown. I hope it can bring about different emotions, but I definitely strive for joy.
I love your series of paintings called Female Ecosystems. Are these actual women that you’ve met that Inspired you Or are they creations of your imagination?
I guess it’s a mixture between women I’ve known, women that inspire me, women I see on different media and all that comes together in these imaginary women. They all have a part of me too.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
To not be so hard on myself. Something in my gut has always told me I was going to be an artist no matter what, but sometimes I felt I could always be doing more. Now, I try to take it easier.
What experiences and people have been some of the major influences in your development as an artist?
Working with other artists. When I was younger, my friends and I would organize exhibitions and little events, that really inspired me. I also follow many artists online, they inspire me too. I lived abroad, in Belgium for some years, there I could go much deeper into painting, visiting many museums and exhibitions. Meeting other artists and traveling is also very important part of the whole process. Having lived as a nomad for a couple of years with my partner, who’s also an artist, was a very nurturing and exciting experience that keeps feeding my work to this day. Taking risks is something that will always have an impact in the work.
What would you like people to take away when they experience your work?
I’d like for people to go deeper into the stories or at least I’d like for people to feel good when they see the work. Some people go deeper, others stay with the first layer, which is okay as well.
I usually think about cats, big cats, and snakes. I guess I’d want to be a cat. I can be pretty active and attentive, but I also like to laze around sometimes. I’m into people, but I definitely need my alone time too.
If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?
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