article In conversation with Carlos Peñalver
In conversation with
Carlos Peñalver
Carlos Peñalver
In conversation with Carlos Peñalver
about collaboration, intuitive drawing,
and his dream mural for Tate Modern.
about collaboration, intuitive drawing,
and his dream mural for Tate Modern.
In conversation with Carlos Peñalver about collaboration, intuitive drawing, and his dream mural for Tate Modern.
Carlos Peñalver is a Spanish artist based in London. Having previously studied architecture, he creates intricate and dynamic paintings, drawings and murals using a line-drawing style and a monochromatic palette. His work is heavily influenced by his travels and depicts the everyday life scenes and people he encounters, including people on public transport, in cafes, restaurants and markets.
Artiq Who or what has had the most significant influence on your practice?
Carlos I would say everything. Growing up in Alicante, drawing with my siblings, filming, reading comics in my childhood. Studying architecture was probably my biggest drag or influence. My greatest constrain and my greatest impulse.
Artiq You've previously mentioned that your creative process is intuitive. Can you elaborate on that?
Carlos I try to stay genuine when I draw- for me the easiest way to do this is not thinking much, not stopping the line allows me to do this. Draw from imagination. Lately, I’m letting my large drawings grow naturally and take shape by themselves.
Carlos I would say everything. Growing up in Alicante, drawing with my siblings, filming, reading comics in my childhood. Studying architecture was probably my biggest drag or influence. My greatest constrain and my greatest impulse.
Artiq You've previously mentioned that your creative process is intuitive. Can you elaborate on that?
Carlos I try to stay genuine when I draw- for me the easiest way to do this is not thinking much, not stopping the line allows me to do this. Draw from imagination. Lately, I’m letting my large drawings grow naturally and take shape by themselves.
Artiq We have worked on many projects together over the years and recently had the pleasure of commissioning you to create a bespoke mural for the Renaissance Foundation. Can you tell us a bit about this piece and what the experience of creating it was like for you?
Carlos It was great. For me it was an opportunity to do a collaborative piece, very private, only for the staff and for the young people. Do something together with them. In their space. Something for them. The vaults and the scale of the space made it very unique.
Artiq It was your idea to include the young people at the Renaissance Foundation in each step of the artistic process - from submitting ideas of what they'd like to see in the final piece to encouraging them to draw with you onto the wall. Is the element of collaboration important to you, and how do you feel it influences your artistic practice?
Carlos It has been for a few years that I’ve been trying to create a collaborative piece, I want to involve people, with their ideas or drawings. But how to really do this is the challenge. For me it is very important. It gives meaning. In my opinion the Renaissance Foundation piece is the closest I have been so far. It is definitely one of my favourites. Drawing smaller figures also helps to do this.
Carlos It was great. For me it was an opportunity to do a collaborative piece, very private, only for the staff and for the young people. Do something together with them. In their space. Something for them. The vaults and the scale of the space made it very unique.
Artiq It was your idea to include the young people at the Renaissance Foundation in each step of the artistic process - from submitting ideas of what they'd like to see in the final piece to encouraging them to draw with you onto the wall. Is the element of collaboration important to you, and how do you feel it influences your artistic practice?
Carlos It has been for a few years that I’ve been trying to create a collaborative piece, I want to involve people, with their ideas or drawings. But how to really do this is the challenge. For me it is very important. It gives meaning. In my opinion the Renaissance Foundation piece is the closest I have been so far. It is definitely one of my favourites. Drawing smaller figures also helps to do this.
Artiq You have painted site-specific murals in a wide range of spaces - museums, universities, retail stores, hospitals and workplaces. Where would be your dream location to paint a mural?
Carlos I remember growing up seeing the mural of Manuel Baeza in the Hotel Gran Sol in Alicante. You can see it from everywhere.
My dream would be to paint a mural in the Tate Modern. A mural of such a scale that would take me a whole year.
Carlos I remember growing up seeing the mural of Manuel Baeza in the Hotel Gran Sol in Alicante. You can see it from everywhere.
My dream would be to paint a mural in the Tate Modern. A mural of such a scale that would take me a whole year.
Artiq What do you hope that your audience takes away from your work?
Carlos I hope for them to take time to see things- I want my drawings to be as less immediate as possible. But still readable. I’m working to get there. And I want to tell stories too.
Artiq Do you have any upcoming projects or exhibitions that you would like to share with us?
Carlos I’m painting a mural in the Arc with CW+, a new space front of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and another one in my daughter’s nursery in Newham. And maybe 1 or 2 more opportunities coming this year.
Carlos I hope for them to take time to see things- I want my drawings to be as less immediate as possible. But still readable. I’m working to get there. And I want to tell stories too.
Artiq Do you have any upcoming projects or exhibitions that you would like to share with us?
Carlos I’m painting a mural in the Arc with CW+, a new space front of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and another one in my daughter’s nursery in Newham. And maybe 1 or 2 more opportunities coming this year.