Elbi Elem’s geometric work, characterized by adaptions and play with the architectural forms where it is located, has found a new surface that fits perfectly to its stylistic characteristics.
The Mil·lenari Bridge in Tortosa is the structure that was used by the artist to configure a new set of colors and rectilinear shapes. The intervention is part of the WOMART project, an initiative developed by Rebobinart that affirms the importance of female talent within street art.
Surtdecasa.cat posted and interview that we’re bringing to you here, translated below.
Photo credits: Vanessa Batista
Why do you paint in the street?
It’s a form of expression, a way to transform a space, to create and interact with buildings, architecture, landscape, texture, shapes and colors that surround the wall. In some way it also makes a connection with whoever observes it.
What does this medium give to you that canvas or any other surface doesn’t?
Painting or interacting with public space allows you to create on a large scale and that’s something that I am passionate about. It reaches people who live near by or walk past in a more direct way. It possesses a very nice component of interacting with the public.
“The geometric shapes are designed to be seen from different points of view and especially from a specific viewpoint where the image becomes anamorphic“
In Tortosa you painted on a bridge structure. What is the relationship between drawing and space?
I designed this idea especially for the space on which I was going to work: the Pont del Mil·lenari and the Museu de l’Ebre. It’s an anamorphic composition on 5 planes. In this case, it was inevitable to want to take advantage of the place since initially I was only supposed to work on the side wall. I found not only the white cement surface very interesting, but architecture and perspective as well. Being a bridge of large dimensions and being located in an open green area next to the Ebro river, an interesting game of perspectives was created. My mural causes you to following the lines and perspectives of the bridge. The geometric shapes are designed to be seen from different points of view and especially from a specific viewpoint where the image becomes anamorphic. The five different planes cause the work to be constantly transformed according where it is observed from.
Could you explain how the idea was born?
It began to take shape the moment I saw the space and its possibilities. I wanted to evoke a city like Tortosa, with its medieval area and the river passing through. The windows on the bridge itself looked like columns of a building seen in perspective. The Ebro Museum is located on the inside the bridge, where there is a very interesting, large space in which geometry and perspective are explained through some type of game. So, my intervention was completely perfect for the space. In fact, you can play with the mural and the shapes cut out of its interior and create new pieces.
Up until today, what was the work you felt most proud of? Why?
It’s hard to decide … there are some works where I like the result. As a personal exercise, normally when I paint I try to improve and learn something new every time with the risk of failing. Then I feel like I am moving forward, even though it’s little by little.
Womart is a project that aims to give visibility to creative women. Is there any feminist assertions in your work? How do you view the social context of women in the art world in general?
My work is abstract and the compositions I make tend to use elements such as form, color or balance. It’s difficult to express a feminist message that can be captured by the observer through this language. However, the fact that I’m participating in projects like this is somewhat vindicatory. Also, I demand gender equality in any field or situation and therefore I am a feminist.
“On the one hand, I don’t think it’s a good idea to participate in events where men are excluded and, on the other hand, I think it’s a good possibility, not only to be able to show my work but to be able to comment all of this stuff“
What do you think about the festivals or events where only women participate?
Years ago I was invited for the first time to participate in a women’s festival and I was presented with this dilemma/contradiction. Did I want to do it or not? On the one hand, I don’t think it’s a good idea to participate in events where men are excluded and, on the other hand, I think it’s a good possibility, not only to be able to show my work but to be able to comment all of this stuff. After talking with the organization, they showed me statistically proven data and I realized that a change was really necessary. Festivals and projects like this seem like a wake up call. It’s possible that many people are unaware. It is a reality that there is no equality in terms of female representation in many fields, and in the art world it’s true as well.
2 What do you think?
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