"I see my painting as my language"

How would you describe yourself, your art, and your achievements (in brief)?

I am an irreverent person and never conformed to what was done. I always find that what is to be born, is always much better than what already exists. My art is in a constant flux; I refuse to practice repetitive copies of the same picture, to make my name from one work. One thing I’m sure of, in 20 years of my career, I have´t done anything... I need to work very hard to continue my work.

Could you describe your art philosophy?

Actually my language as moved to a more abstract phase, I want to have people thinking while they are seeing the works, they need to watch them, and then the observer will have a different role... a key role. The observer will, once and for all, think to see what is inside, inside this language. When I started, 20 years ago, I dedicated my time to the draw (I was one of the best in my class ;) ) then I got all the academics but only now I found my way in arts, my own language.

What has been your chief source of inspiration?

My inspirations are my voyages, these are the main reason for the changes within my language; contact with other persons, other weather, and other food are dominant factors for my work. I love the sunset, the end of the day in different countries, socializing with other cultures. I think my inspiration is everywhere.

Could you tell our readers what art training have you received?

I Graduated in Fine Art from the Faculdade de Belas Artes de Lisboa, I also graduated from the private ArCo School of Art in Lisbon, where I got Intensive Painting. I studied Ceramics in Secondary school and also several workshops and small specializations during the last few years. Although all of this, I prefer my life experiences, they taught me a lot.

Please describe your fondest memories: your childhood, family, teachers and classmates.

I´m from a humble family, I have been taught, first of all, that we should respect others. My education was really stimulating on my creative process, since we had a lot of financial problems I didn't have have materials or paint, therefore I used whatever I had access to: paper, pencil, wood. When I got my first canvas, I was 15 years old, you cannot imagine my happiness.

My secondary school was better than my University years, I had the best masters I could of had, that always told me to continue my dream.

Portugal is a country with a lot of good artists but the government doesn´t have any interest in arts so it´s very difficult to be a full time artist based in Portugal.

Can you tell me about the early phase of your young artist life?

Well my first years as an “art lover” were a little difficult since I didn’t have the money to get materials, I´m the 3rd of 4 brothers so it was complicated, but I never gave up. I´m a very spared person so I got my materials, saving money from Christmas and birthday presents to buy oils, canvas`…

I managed to have my first exhibition in 1995 with a schoolmate, and from that day on, my life is what it is…Art.

It has been very difficult since we don´t have government support and in Portugal, Arts are not well received from persons in general, they would prefer to buy a expensive watch or a car, than go to a exhibition and buy a piece of art…

What is your favorite genre and style in art?

Abstract of course, I want the observer to think, to be a part of the work. It´s quite a challenge, to see the persons discovery of what the artists what them to find.

In your own words, how would you describe your aim in art?

Mark time; mark the twenty-first century, very difficult in Portugal but not so in the rest of the world. Being understood in countries like USA or here in Europe is something that I’m happy about. My aim is simple, to have a language that can reach global attention. I normally create different collections, figurative or abstracts, which, in that collection, want to call attention to some facts. Recently in East Timor, I presented a collection of works for “Human Rights”, a mixture of figurative and abstract works, with a conducting wire, to the observer to understand what’s behind.

Would you like to tell our readers what is the most recent change in your art life?

I´m in constant change, so it´s a little difficult to have a precise time, I’m now passing to this more “Abstract” communication, but at the same time, in my head I’m preparing some review of works that I made in 1999 and I’m now passing them from scratch to canvas, so the better way to follow this is to be in contact with me to see the new works…

We would like to know how you underwent different phases in your art life?

As my mood, I see my painting as my language. I normally use an expression that really defines me, “My art is my soul” and it´s true, If you look through my years, you see happiness, sadness, hope, and a lot of insanity 

How have the changes in your life change your perception about art and its application?

My life always changes as I travel, so that amplifies the constant change in my art. As I told you, experience comes with my travels, the share of experience, of culture and everything changes with it.

Would you like to say something personal about yourself, your feelings and your response to how the art world has treated you?

I would like to ask to the Art industry for a little more respect with respects to contemporary artists and their art, as we know, art is also a business, like other businesses, and I think that the system has to improve, better conditions for recent artists and to inspire them in their creative process.

Not all is bad, we see a lot of residencies to artists that travel and create their works without borders, my question is that when we pass the commercial process to the evaluation of works, it must exist as an alternative market besides the art fairs….My career was made from the beginning, from hard work and devotion. Whomever drives and strives for success deserves respect.

Please give me an emotional account of your art fairs. How do you feel about them?

I think that Art Fairs are an excellent place to visit and get to know the market, to get in touch with other artists and to share experiences.

I have been in Satellite events during some important Art Fairs (one in Miami during the Art Basel 2013, one in New York during Art Expo 2014, Singapore during the Affordable Art Fair and some others in Lisbon during our extinct FIA), New York was good and there I sold my most expensive artwork, I was very happy for having a collector appreciated it.

I will also have my first Auction in April this year, in Singapore; let´s see what will happen.

About old or new masters, who has really inspired you?

Van Gogh, Picasso, and from Portugal, artists Julio Pomar and Vieira da Silva.

What is your foremost ambition in life?

Well to be honest, I’m very happy with my life, but I wish that one day, I can be living from my work in Portugal.

If not, my wish is to have my country more dedicated to culture, besides Football, Fatima and Fado. We also have contemporary art, contemporary music, theatre and a lot more.

Your comments on art selling and buying. What changes do you wish for?

I wish that sales were more uniform and that contemporary art was more desirable, that not only the masters were of interest, contemporary artist need to live.

The industry must find a better way to create a more dedicated management to contemporary art, ones that have space, and to be rental to both sides.

There are more buyers that buy art not as an investment, but as decorative pieces, that´s why I´m saying that the industry has a gap and that this gap can can be filled with present day contemporary art.

Any other comment that comes to your mind at the moment?

I just want to have an opportunity to create more and to continue being happy in this process of my life.

What would be your last wish?

My last wish is to have a Picasso in my house, to see it every day, to breathe it…

Your artist statement is?

The better way is to let the specialists talk for this, here is what my curator in New York says about me:

A gifted painter, in the purest sense, Natália has skillfully created a body of work that is simultaneously lyrical and mysterious, jubilant yet poetic. Employing these paradoxes, she skillfully applies her raw talent into different mediums and styles creating a sense of flux, depth and dominance. Natália’s work takes elemental images, from nature and the landscape to culture and individuals she encounters on her travels, and transforms using dramatic ploys such as contrasts in scale, shifts in focus, mirrored reflections, staccato images, and multiple or layered surfaces. Sensory perception for Natália is a spiritual activity, one that leads to a heightened awareness of both nature and culture—this thought process points to a new kind of realism—one that is engaged with the actual processes of life. Yet, it also references the theoretical avant-garde conceptions of deconstruction emerging during Modernism. Her work is intense, yet moving, powerful yet sensitive. Gathering her subjects in her field of vision, she draws on her inner world, inviting us to join her on a journey of discovery of the essence of being, depicting new truths of the meaning of existence. Drawing us into an enigmatic and luxurious world of imagination, seduction, and spirit, she creates organic shape and flowing shapely contours. Her luscious approach is inspired. Layered shapes and elegant color distinguish her recent body of work, executed in a strongly stylized painting method. The energy and vigor of her explosive portraits haunt the viewer with a dynamic juxtaposition of both playful, yet eerie implications.