denounce, share, surprise
faber
interview with i.t.a.
thanks for taking the time out to speak with powder faber. your work has certainly made an impact on us here at the powder studio and from what we here it’s been turning the heads of the city slickers in lima.
you’re a proactive street artist. what do you think the role street art has in the community? what does it do for the residents of a city?
Street art opens a dialogue between people and the city; it appears suddenly to speak, denounce, share, surprise, captivate, leave a message, touch your heart, or simply to make daily life more fun. It definitely changes people´s interaction with their surroundings; the perception of the city is affected somehow.
It´s honest and fresh character makes it more powerful; people can feel it perfectly.
often you paint large murals on the sides of buildings. what are the laws regarding street art in lima? have you ever been in trouble with the law whilst you’ve been out there?
I do prefer to paint and be able to finish what I´ve started. That´s why I choose to paint in places where the authorities don’t have access or simply won´t care if something is changed.
Usually people are very open to donating their walls, and appreciate what street artists share. Murals are a very attractive addition, which help to beautify the city, and the locals realise that.
how large is the street art community in peru? is there a big street art movement? are there parts of the country where street art is more prevalent?
We do have an increasing street art movement with very talented artists, who try to develop their discourse, mostly in an independent way with their own resources. Artists from different backgrounds have taken the city as their canvas, sharing their feelings, dreams, thoughts and ideas. I think there are several reasons why artists share their work outside in the streets.
I think the peripheral areas of a city embrace the manifestations of the streets more than the residential areas.
your style is very unique. the people you paint seem to have a softness and harmony about them, yet at the same time they seem to be longing for something more. what would you say you are trying to convey through your work?
Thanks for your comment. It´s true, I usually love painting characters that I invent, who denote some certain emotion or expression. I think they´ve all got a particular personality and are some kind of a reflection of my inner world. When I feel something usually images come to my head, and I draw them, or at least try to, because I haven´t arrived to the point where I really translate my feelings exactly on the paper or the wall. What I paint are efforts to get close to what I really dream or feel. Sometimes it´s kind of a frustration, but at the same time, that´s what keeps me motivated, to continue creating, and not thinking about the result, but enjoying my ride. This duality is what keeps me entertained. In the end, I try not to take my art that serious, it´s just a way to leave something honest that I can share with people, and I prefer to let them give an interpretation.
many of your pieces feature animals. what’s the significance of the animals?
I do love painting animals, and recently when I´ve been painting them, I’ve been more conscience about it in order to denote some certain expressions. So, when a lion appears, for example, it´s not about the animal itself, but the expression of anger or tenderness.
what started you off as an artist? why did you choose to work on the streets?
I´ve always loved drawing and skateboarding. I started doing graffiti when I was young. So I’m very grateful to it, because I experienced the feeling of freedom at a very young age. Graffiti opened a door for me, which I entered to discover a whole new world, but mainly, to approximate myself to art.
who do you think are the most important peruvian street artists on the scene today? which peruvian artists influence you?
There are many Peruvian street artists whom I admire, not just because of the quality of their work, but also because there are the ones who do not give up or let time pass by without creating.
We do have a lot against us, but what I admire about Peruvians in general, is their force to keep that resistance up and street art is no exception. I do love going out and sharing paintings with my friends and with other artists. I think that´s what we do have in common, because we get through the same difficulties every day, but keep on enjoying it.
besides other artists, what other cultural factors influence your work?
I do admire and get influenced by musicians, theatre, movies, books, everything that has to do with creativity.
has your art taken you travelling? if so, where has it taken you? what are the best cities you have visited?
I´m lucky because I’ve known some kind people that got interested in my art, who invited me to collaborate with them, being part of art exhibitions here in Peru, but also in other countries.
I´ve exhibited in Paris, Berlin, Miami, Atlanta and California.
Each place has its own charm.
what’s the strangest thing that has happened to you while you were out painting on a public wall?
I do remember several experiences, but I don´t know if there´s one strangest. I think they´re the usual ones, like for example, when people interact with you, and give you their thoughts about what you´re painting. Obviously, not everyone will like your work, and they´ll let you know that.
What I do enjoy is the honest answer from them, even if it´s not that positive.
Or I remember onetime, when a kindly woman gave me fruit and water, sharing what she had bought for her family.
and lastly faber, what’s it like living in lima? what do you do to have a good time there?
Well, Lima is growing and the cultural scene here is an important development resulting from this growth.
I do love Lima, because we have a lot of beaches and the weather is not that strong.
Going out and painting is always an adventure here, because you don´t expect what´s next… Lima always surprises you.
thanks once again for being a part of peruvian powder faber. We love the whimsy of your pieces and hope we come across them next time we are walking through the streets of Lima.
Thanks for the interview, and I hope you can visit my city sometime!
check out the artworks of faber
