How would you describe what you do?
In my art works I use different mediums – like installation, sculpture and mixed media on paper – to tell stories. I use a lot of elements from nature, but I transform them into something else that doesn’t belong to the real world. This dream-like universe is a metaphor for different aspects of my journey as an immigrant and poses questions about identity.
When were you first drawn to your current art form?
I have made art since I can remember. At the beginning it was my way of dealing with the world around me: the past, the present and the future. Slowly it became a more conscious choice that turned into my own language to tell stories and develop my own sense of identity.
Where are you and your studio based?
I work in Brisbane – my studio faces out onto a beautiful rainforest garden and a flowing creek and the windows are always open to let in light, sounds and aromas, and sometimes one or two water dragons!
Did you study fine arts or are you self-taught?
I studied Fine Arts at Universidad de Chile and after that I worked professionally in photography. Years later I studied print making in Montreal.
What does a typical day in the studio involve?
An early coffee and good music is all I need! After I commence work, time flies! But I do take walks around the garden – that’s part of my creative process.
Why are you drawn to your subject matter?
Three elements recur in my work: Water, Air and Earth. Living in strikingly different regions of the world, I have drawn inspiration from nature: Chile’s oceans, deserts and snow-capped mountains, as well as Canada’s forests and more recently the tropical forests of Australia. Research into stories behind cultural experiences and connections between people and places helped me to identify how important ancestry and my migrant journey was to my art.
What materials do you use?
My work is mainly etching on aluminium plate. After the image has been printed on archival paper I apply Chine Collé and incorporate other materials, like watercolour, pencil, acrylic paint and graphite. I like having the flexibility of using any media that suits the concept and to be experimental.
What are you currently working on?
My new body of work is inspired by my recent trip back to South America for the first time in over six years. Family, place and memory are now seen through an outsider’s eyes.
How does the migrant experience influence your art?
The experience of immigration forever changes you. Distance helps you see more clearly who you are and the cultural labels you were born with. This, along with the physical and emotional loss, influences my art.
Above:
Artist Paula Quintela. Photo: Paula Quintela. Courtesy: the artist.
