Carlos Alvarez de las Heras
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras is a figurative painter and sculptor born in Leon, Spain in 1982 and based in Madrid since 2000. His work stands out for its particular use of colour and its distortion of time and space, blending childlike whimsy with adult complexity. He works with galleries in Spain and Denmark, and has left a 24-metre mural in Leon's central bus station that has remained vibrant for over twelve years.
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras
Madrid · Malasana
Influenced by the world of comics, Carlos places the individual in interaction with others and blended into patterned backgrounds of powerful colour, as the central axis of his works. In 2005 he was invited to exhibit at the College of Spain in Paris, where he received the Medal to Artistic Merit in Plastic Arts. He has been painting since he can remember. Moving to Madrid for university, he stayed, immersing himself in the city's art scene. What truly moves him is remembering those who believed in him early on.
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras Art is like food. I try everything, even what I don't initially like. I find magic in small details, which is why my work is packed with meaningful elements. Even on bad days, I aim to infuse positivity into my art.
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras A mix of childhood cartoon influences, like my characters' four fingers, and adult complexity. Some call it expressionist, but I won't define what it expresses. That's for the viewer to feel.
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras Madrid is a cultural powerhouse, constantly evolving. My studio is in Malasana, a historic neighbourhood tied to avant-garde creativity. Every day brings new exhibitions, galleries, and installations. It's an exhilarating place to be an artist.
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras This year's ARCO was brighter, bolder, radiating optimism. Peru's influence was undeniable, though touring the fair with a Pisco Sour might have coloured my perspective.
Carlos Alvarez de las Heras I use Instagram and Facebook to share my work widely, and Pinterest as an endless well of inspiration, if used wisely.
"My first exhibition was called Shapes and Colours — and in many ways, I'm still there."
Carlos Alvarez de las HerasNo soy bueno poniendome etiquetas. Creo que mi estilo es una prolongacion de mi persona, tiene muchas de mis luces y sombras, y definirlo seria como definirme yo a mi mismo, algo que siempre me cuesta. Me divierte sin embargo escuchar las observaciones de los demas, las conclusiones que obtienen viendo mi pintura, que historia imaginan que existe detras de lo que he pintado. En algun articulo describieron mi estilo como "figuracion expresionista" lo cual me parece bien porque el termino es muy cajon de sastre. Recientemente, lei una critica que me definia como un pintor de lo vulgar, en el sentido de que daba importancia a elementos y situaciones menores, poco elevadas, y me gusto porque es cierto.
TranslationI am not good at putting labels on myself. I believe my style is an extension of my person — it carries many of my lights and shadows, and defining it would be like defining myself, which I always find difficult. I do enjoy listening to the observations of others, the conclusions they reach looking at my painting, what story they imagine lies behind what I have painted. In one article they described my style as expressionist figuration, which seems fine to me because the term is a very catch-all. Recently I read a review that described me as a painter of the vulgar, in the sense that I gave importance to minor elements and situations, not elevated ones, and I liked it because it is true.
Yo pienso que existe un proceso de concentracion en todos los sectores y tambien por supuesto en el mundo del arte. Esto afecta siempre al negocio pequeno, al negocio local, y pienso que si finalmente cierra una galeria, un cine o un teatro, perdemos un poco todos. Ademas conlleva un mensaje de inestabilidad y precariedad para quien desea iniciar su carrera en las artes. Pienso tambien que el modelo, sea el de un museo, galeria o artista debe ser sostenible por si mismo economicamente, pero el apoyo de las administraciones es fundamental y favorece nuestra evolucion como sociedad.
TranslationI think there is a process of concentration in all sectors, including of course the art world. This always affects the small business, the local business, and I think that if a gallery, a cinema or a theatre finally closes, we all lose a little. It also carries a message of instability and precarity for those who wish to begin their careers in the arts. I also think that the model, whether museum, gallery or artist, must be economically self-sustaining, but the support of public institutions is fundamental and favours our evolution as a society.
Creo que el arte fue, es y sera siempre de primera necesidad.
TranslationI believe that art was, is, and will always be a first necessity.
