ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: JAVIERA ESTRADA
A seeker of the spiritual, Javiera Estrada believes that every piece of art created is a self portrait, a physical expression of that inner nameless world our soul inhabits. Her work has been exhibited in galleries all over the world and is part of private and corporate collections. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
I’m a multimedia artist, born in Acapulco Mexico. I spent the first 7 years of my life there before emigrating to the U.S. Whether it was my artistic eccentricities, or the culture gap, I always felt different. Being creative from a very early age, I got into a lot of trouble drawing on walls or smashing plates- just to hear the “beautiful sound” of breaking glass. As I got older, that frenzied desire to create channeled itself into less destructive modalities; dance, making clothes, music, and later photography.
Today, my mediums and subjects vastly oscillate, however, my mystical affinity for bridging the gap between the conscious milieu of reality and the subconscious world of the spiritual can be seen throughout the work. I explore this theme in a multitude of ways, whether I'm shooting female bodies as sculptural forms in organic communion with nature, or creating galactic primordial environments with inks-formless fluids as metaphor for prima materia-the mystical throughline can be seen in the work as a whole.
Javiera tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences please.
Inspiration is everywhere! Life itself inspires me. At the same time, I am a very curious person who likes to learn and research everything, which I believe, influences my work. Psychology, quantum physics, art, spirituality, nature, literature, film, and abstract concepts are a few subjects which interest me. I believe this is why I also like to toggle between different mediums; photography, textiles, film, sculpture, wearable art, and mixed media.
Simultaneously, my early childhood memories of growing up in Mexico--a tropical paradise of vibrant colors, seeped in spiritual ritual and magical realism--have deeply influenced my artistic aesthetic.
How are the current trends in technology and innovation affecting your work as a creative?
Technology is a massive concern in my work. I am either trying to separate myself as far as I can from it by creating work that is tactile, time consuming, and as technology free as possible, or discussing how the fast-paced, digital platform is affecting our spirits. My current series is exploring the latter.
We’d love to hear more about your creative process.
My artistic approach is both frenzied, time consuming, and laborious. The initial messy, chaotic stage of unknowing is essential to my process, as it allows me to connect with the deeper, subconscious elements wanting to emerge through the work. I don’t like to get in the way of inspiration so I tend to give myself space to create without interference from my conscious mind. I believe this style of working allows me to be present with the process. Typically, the essence of a series reveals itself about halfway through—this is when I assess, see what’s missing, and complete the project.
What do you think of the art world?
The art world is a wild and fickle place. It’s difficult to fully comprehend it, as there is a myriad of trajectories one can take. I believe the space has changed quite a lot, even within my own time. The traditional brick and mortar gallery space has shifted with the invention of the internet. At the same time, many artists are given the power to self-promote and not be tethered to any particular representation should they choose. They are able to make money without relying on anyone else and I think that’s great. However, in regards to that insular elite group at the top of the chain, I think that old paradigm still exists.
As with everything, things are always evolving and changing so I imagine the art world will continue to shift and adapt to the times.
Anything coming up that we should know about?
Yes! I have been working on a solo show called What Happened to Twister? About the effects of technology on our spirits for the past three years. The work will be complete by the end of the year and I will be showing sometime early next year.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Balance. I am an obsessive person and can hyper focus on an art project and completely ignore my body, health, and personal needs. It’s an issue that I am working on. When I don’t have regular healthy habits, such as exercise, rest, being in nature, or eating well, I get thrown off balance which can easily cause burn out. I feel best when I do my morning routine of spiritual readings or meditation, take regular walks, which also inspires creative ideas, take time to do nothing (which is practically impossible for me!), and spend time with loved ones.
Instagram:@javieraestradaartist
