Interview
Catalina Canessa G.
Catalina was born and raised in Santiago de Chile. She studied architecture, and also took 2 years of Art Studies in painting at University Católica de Chile. Catalina also spent one year in an art school in Barcelona.
For 2 years, Catalina worked in the restoring of 16 churches on Chiloé Island, in the south of Chile, which were declared Patrimony of humanity by Unesco. This experience was very fulfilling for her because of the close relation they formed with each community in the Island, and the huge experience gained in learning about the use of wood in architecture.
She now lives in Puerto Varas, a small, beautiful city 200km away from Chiloé in the continent. She is a full-time mother of 3, a wife, and an artist.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’m an architect, and even though I love my career, I always knew I wanted to live my life as an artist. That’s why I spent 2 years in art school, focusing on painting.
I have always been passionate about colors, and the energy that they bring up when they play together. My early art pieces were influenced by a very architectural perception, especially after having been trapped in a career that involved looking at and perceiving the outside: the city, people, movement and circulation between places and spaces. Today, my paintings tell my own story: they talk about emotions and my experiences, in every possible artistic language that I feel a connection with.
Over the last few years, I’ve have been studying and learning a lot. As I work alone, for me is important to make a kind of community around, and learn from other talented artists and their experiences - so I have taken some online art courses that have given me fundamental tools to improve my work and my confidence (Nancy Hillis, Jodie King, Sergio Gomez and Lorna Crane).”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I want to create a story in my paintings — a story that tells the viewer about moments, spontaneous energy and movement. I pursue my environment into color. I don’t feel I have a real message. I’m just trying to create something honest and let my intuition flow freely throughout the whole process.”
“Artists have gotten together to give to the society their own perceptions, new personal convictions about life and art. I think this is so amazing.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is about infusing the paintings with my energy, so this art can be honestly created by me. My motivation comes from things that I love: mostly being connected with nature, music and daily work in my studio, always looking for colors and differences that may make the work attractive.
I use many layers to give the richness to the work, you can see some of the stages behind and a finally moving space. I also use the line in every form, and gestural movements related to freedom that comes to me when I’m in front of the white canvas. It’s just like being in some big piece of land.”
What artists influence you most?
“I find my work is greatly influenced by Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler and Wassily Kandinsky.”
What is your creative process like?
"Every time I start a new piece of work, it’s like writing a new chapter of a book. I try to feel the new colors through meditative breathing. I try a midpoint between relaxing and being present. Then comes the mental visualization, and an initial color palette next to the first graphite movements. I work with no plan and loud music.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“In the very early centuries, the artist had a very social role of basically making a register of universal history through paintings. This has evolved over time until nowadays, there is a new focus in art. It’s no longer simply registering what is outside. Artists have started to believe in themselves, expressing their own ideas and convictions, pushing art into unlimited possibilities and the most important for me — the freedom and confidence to put our inner voice out there.
That’s why we are here, to make art for everyone, no matter the language.”
