In the latest edition of our interview series, we once again dive into the world of aesthetics. In inspiring conversations with creative minds from the fields of architecture, design, and art, we explore the many facets of beauty and find out how our guests define and experience aesthetics. Along the way, they provide us with insights into their creative process and reveal how their work influences people’s perceptions. This time, I was honored to have an inspiring conversation with Spanish artist Antonia Ferrer.
Antonia Ferrer (b. 1965), a contemporary artist from Valencia, creates a unique visual experience with her minimalist works. Ferrer’s philosophy is to strive for simplicity, and her monochrome paintings convey this through elegance and timelessness. Her works blend the line between sculpture and painting; they are characterized by texture, light and shadow, meditative calm, serenity, and aesthetic simplicity.
They invite the viewer to a sensory perception and a deeper appreciation of the simplicity of color. I spoke with her about her art, her inspirations, and the creative process behind her paintings.
Antonia, how did you discover your love for monochromatic and minimalist art, and what inspired you to move in that direction?
Antonia Ferrer: First of all, I am a deep and global observer of nature; the sea, the dunes, the forest, … I am inspired by the essential, the being of things. Their simplicity. And in that simplicity, I discover an infinite and unfathomable world. I try to materialize those sensations that I cannot transmit with words. And that’s why my monochrome and minimalist work reflects my attitude to life and to painting: Less is more.
Can you tell us something about the creative process behind your paintings? How do you go from the idea to the finished artwork and how do you know when one of your works is finished?
Antonia Ferrer: To begin with, my work is of a simple nature but with an elaborate workmanship. So, it needs waiting times in both texture and color. I never start a work without ideas. To begin with, I focus on the representation of an emotion that I am feeling, that I have experienced, or that I want to feel.
I observe, explore, think, simplify, invent, and make my sketches. And I let them breathe for a few days. Then, I challenge myself to create something new by handling three elements: Matter, composition, and color. And I know that the work is finished when I manage to capture what I feel.
My monochrome and minimalist work reflects my attitude to life and to painting: Less is more
Your paintings blur the line between sculpture and painting in a unique way. How do you create the special textures in your works?
Antonia Ferrer: Creating without recipes! Trial – error – learning. That’s how I learn everything. I love to experiment with new things. To express myself I use very simple materials and mix them in an alchemical process. Then, with my gestures, I establish a dialogue with the material. I renounce the image in favor of the trace, which speaks for itself. It is a process that has its own time.
And finally, I work the oil paint out of this lower texture, as the architecture of my works. As a result, it is almost like a bas-relief.
You have studied art history, is there a specific artist or art movement that has particularly influenced you and contributed to your own work?
Antonia Ferrer: Of course there is. Having studied art history has opened my eyes to a multitude of artistic movements and artists from all periods that have had an impact on me. I’m like a sponge that absorbs everything it sees, but I squeeze it out and eliminate the superfluous. I only keep what is essential. That’s why I identify with a material minimalism, monochromatic, like a field of thick-skinned color.
Then, with my gestures, I establish a dialogue with the material.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your daily work?
Antonia Ferrer: The best thing that has happened to me has been transforming my passion into my profession…. I love knowing that I can create anything I can imagine. Going from an idea to seeing it in a real form is very rewarding for me.
Your paintings have a strong meditative quality, how important are mindfulness and self-reflection to you as an artist?
Antonia Ferrer: Mindfulness is the ability to pause and feel the here and now. And really, time doesn’t exist when I’m focused on my work. It’s just me and the work. Face to face. I speak a quiet language of color. Exploring emptiness and silence. Drawing the viewer into a space without boundaries and without time. The total silence and freedom. Of simplicity. To create a peaceful art that makes the viewer pause and escape from the hustle and noise. That’s all I want.
What do you think makes something art?
Antonia Ferrer: For me, what makes something Art is that it is able to move me. That it gives me aesthetic pleasure.
To create a peaceful art that makes the viewer pause and escape from the hustle and noise. That’s all I want.
More about Antonia Ferrer
Aesence Feature: Contemporary Minimalism by Antonia Ferrer
https://www.alzuetagallery.com/artists/antonia-ferrer/
https://antoniaferrer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/antoniaferrerstudio/
