ANE ALFEIRAN: Paints with Flair

Tell us how you got into art.

My mom is an artist, so art has always been a big part of my life; I grew up surrounded by canvases, sculptures and paint. As a consequence, I always have felt an inherent desire to create —my school notebooks are full of sketches and drawings and I would constantly get into trouble for spending my time drawing instead of taking notes. I have always produced art for myself on a smaller scale, but a few years ago I started experimenting with larger-scale pieces, different mediums, and actually painting and sharing my art. Once I started there was no going back and it has completely transformed the way I approach art and my life.

Where did you study?

I studied Hospitality Management at CESSA University in Mexico City and have worked in the hospitality industry in Madrid, Dubai, Beijing and Hong Kong. By the time I was 23 years old my company moved me to Hong Kong to open and run a hotel. I took several art courses at Hong Kong University and finally decided to pursue a full-time art career earlier this year. Quitting my job to become an artist was one of the biggest decisions I have ever made. Leaving a stable, successful career in hospitality to pursue my passion is both scary and exciting, but I haven't had a moment of doubt that I made the right decision. I have always known that to be happy I needed to do something creative and I loved painting, but, as with many artists, I wasn't sure if I could make a career out of it.

What are your inspirations?

Inspiration is a curious idea. I create visual art that turns everyday norms into dynamic pieces of aesthetic beauty. Everything inspires me, from my day-to-day life and the people I interact with, to music and even the weather; I never know when inspiration will strike or anticipate where it will come from. I believe life should be beautiful; I use layers of color, shapes, and gestures and turn them into balanced representations that explore the human mind. I have extremely lucid dreams and my art process is like meditation to –me—it helps me make sense of my thoughts, clears my mind and transforms these thoughts and dreams into artistic representations. The power and equilibrium of sounds, colors and rhythm flow together in a dynamic whole to depict emotions and passions. 

What form of painting would you say your art is?

This is the question I always find the hardest to answer! If I had to pin down a specific style I would probably say close to neoexpressionist? I leave a question mark because I am always curious to hear what people think of my art and what they think it represents/how it makes them feel. I am still evolving and discovering who I am as an artist so who knows what style I will end up identifying with the most!

Who are your clients? Have you done many art shows?

My clients come from all over the world and range from young professionals to seasoned art collectors. Some find me through social media and online while others may see my art exhibited at one of the shows I have participated in. I genuinely am amazed at the diverse client base that enjoys the art I create. I have done a few art shows and am looking to do more in the future. In 2017 I had showings in London and Lisbon and recently exhibited in Hong Kong during Art Week. I am now preparing for my first solo exhibition in Mexico City in November 2018.

What is your next series? Which series are you the most proud of?

As mentioned above, my next series will be exhibited in Mexico City later this year. It will explore certain themes I have taken a particular interest in recently which can broadly be defined as "social behavior between cultures." I know that sounds vague, but you have to visit the exhibition in Mexico to see my interpretation! It's hard to pick one particular series of which I am most proud —it often depends on how I am feeling. The recent series I worked on in Hong Kong had a brief of "mediocre" which is challenging in several respects, but I am particularly proud of the pieces I exhibited.

Which artists inspire you the most?

Almost every day I discover new artists that inspire me, whether it is graffiti artists in Hong Kong, traditional artists in Myanmar or viewing the classics in Rome. In terms of established artists that have had the biggest impact on me and inspired me the most, it would have to be Picasso and Basquiat. Both artists' works are incredible in their own right and they had equally fascinating personal lives to match.  

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