A conscious painter of Spain, Living in the Big Durian
Where are you originally from and how many years have you been in Jakarta?
I'm from Pamplona in Spain and I went to Jakarta just one year.
What brought you here in the first place?
Love. My partner got a job here and I came with her to Jakarta. I was in Indonesia before and I really liked the feeling of the country, especially the people, and so when she offered to come here, I say yes. I do not want to be in a very large city, which was my only condition, and we are here in Jakarta!
Where were you before Jakarta?
We lived in Spain for a year and I was ready to explore other things. What I like to live here compared to Europe is that I feel more freedom. There are fewer rules than Europe for all.
What did you do in Spain and what are you doing here?
I am an agricultural engineer back in Spain and now I'm a painter. I tried to find a normal job, but in the meantime I paint, otherwise I'm going crazy in a big city every single day. I paint my whole life, but not professionally. Here I started painting and I really feel creative and I enjoy it a lot.
Tell us about your project "Indonesian Cityzens."
This project came when we decided that we wanted to give something back to Indonesia. I understand that Indonesia has so many animals, but many Indonesians are still not aware of how important they are. so I decided to paint these animals and show these people is what you have here and if you destroy the forests, you will kill one of the most precious things in your country.
So you paint for environmental awareness in Indonesia?
I paint because I enjoy it and I hope that through my joy that someone else can enjoy it came animals me. I started to paint and I painted animals I hope that if someone loves them, they will connect the painting with the real animal and they feel a kind. relationship with them. The name we chose for me is very beautiful, Indonesian CityZen, which means they are too Indonesian. They are not human, but they all live in Indonesia and are part of the community. I think that Indonesian citizens are animals.
What about your 13Rivers project?
This is born with Sarah Gray me over coffee. There are 13 channels in Jakarta and we would work with the local population in projects that are always linked to a meaning.
What is the ideal situation for you in the next year with your art?
With Indonesian Cityzens, I would find people who would like to show our paintings and move as much as possible to show animals. I do not try to place the paintings in the galleries aim to sell only. For me, this project must be in the streets. Of course, the gallery wants to make a profit, but I do not want to show animals for sale. I just want to show them. I hope someone can sponsor, perhaps a large company to move around the paintings show animals.
Have you paint other things?
Yes, I do other paintings that I sell, but Indonesian Cityzens were created not for the purpose of profit.
What animals have you painted in your Indonesian Cityzens collection?
The Javan Rhinoceros, of which there are only 40 left in a corner of Java, pygmy elephants of Borneo, Komodo dragon, orangutan, dugong, Tiger Sumatra (he used for three types of tigers in Indonesia and there is only one left) and my favorite, the animal less endangered in the world, which is ayam ( chicken). There is a reason for this. In Spain, we cockfighting and there is a species called Bangkiba, who came supposedly originated in Bangka. It is not in danger, but it is so significant. If it is true, Indonesia has given the world one of the most important animals.
What other projects have you been involved with now?
I do a mural project on Clean Up Day Jakarta (October 19 e ), where volunteers and passers-by can take part in the painting of Jakarta clean with a beautiful blue sky. For this action, which is like poetry, we hope to instill that Jakarta own image in the minds of its citizens. There are 13 main canals in Jakarta and would like all the people of Jakarta to be able to walk along the rivers. My hometown used to have a problem like Jakarta, but now it's perfect, so this may be the same here in the future, if everyone plays their part.
How have you adapted to life in Jakarta?
I am very lucky because I do not have the experience of traffic, as I work at home. I understood that the best way to travel to Jakarta is transit. Transjakarta is good and although the Kopaja really is not comfortable at all, if you are traveling for 10 minutes, it is the fastest way. Even ojek , but it costs the same as a taxi.
What do you think is the biggest problem that faces Jakarta?
People! There are too many people. People can be the problem or they can be the solution. We have more people in Jakarta that the whole of Australia. You have to start dealing with the minds of people to change habits or behaviors. There is one thing I want to focus on my art and that it is the children. If they become more aware of the environment and transport, this generation are those who can make a change. If they want, nobody can stop their mission as caring for the environment. People have so much power for bad things and good things.
Thank you, Inyigo! To contact, e-mail: inyigoardanaz@gmail.com