Interview with Christian Curiel

Q)Something about you…what you want…

A) I live and work in Brooklyn, New York. Originally, I am from Miami Fl. I was born in Puerto Rico to Cuban parents which migrated there in the 70's. I want lots of things. But, mostly I really want to livenear a warm ocean. All in do time...

Q) What are your main goals when you create?

A) I am interested in creating an environment that conveys a strongmood and a variety of interpretations. I am also very interested in how I can apply paint in a different way every time I paint. I am always experimenting with the figure, colors, landscape,composition,and with the medium of paint.

Q) Do you rule by any tendency in your creative work, or you only follow what comes in your mind?

A) I often start with a general idea of sorts, a skeleton for a composition. But, I never really know what the outcome will be. That's kind of where I get my "fix". That is one of the aspects I love about painting. It's almost as if the work tells you what it needs as it develops.

Q)How has the internet and your website helped you spread your artwork to a wider audience?

A)You know, It really has helped me a lot. One needs to stay on course with the times. And digital is the easiest means to get information across rite now.

Q)How do you define your style and how would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

A) Style is to definitive of a word for me. I am always trying different things. And what really ties my work together is content and subject matter. Its always hard to describe ones work to someone who has not seen it, I often say something like. "I make large scale oil paintings that are figurative and deal with childhood memory and open ended narratives that's are often a bit magic realist". Or, I will ask to imagine a very strange acidic colorful "Lord Of The Flies"...

Q)What materials do you use to realize your creations?

A) Pretty much the very basics music, pencil, paper, oil paint, and canvas.

Q) What is your favorite a) taste b) sound c) sight d) scent e) tactile sensation?

A) Chocolate, The beach shore, Nature, My mother's cooking, Skin.

Q) What are you doing now…your current projects…

A) I have been working hard on my first major solo exhibit at Lehmann Maupin gallery in New York City for about a year and a half, its scheduled for the Spring of 2008. I am also doing a show in the project room at David Castillo Gallery in Miami,Fl on April14th 2007.

Q) Do you listen to music while you’re creating and what do you listen and what do you like to listen?

A) I listen to music a lot. I Listen to many kinds of music. I find myself listening to more low tempo kind of poetic lyrics that create lots imagery while I am working. I have been listening to M.Ward,ThomYorke, Modest Mouse, Wilco and always a little Blues, old Cuban song sand Hip Hop.

Q) Do you draw influences from a wide range of artists, musicians, books…?

A) I am always looking, reading, and listing for new things. It's anartist's nature to stay curious always, all the time.

Q)Name 3 things you couldn’t create without?

A) Music, art materials, food.

Q) Where have you show your art…?

A)I have shown in many venues. I remember my first one was in a small coffee shop in Miami Fl, called the Luna Star Cafe which was in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art. Man, I have come a long way. It funny how fast life moves. Always looking ahead.

Q) What haven’t you done yet that you definitely want to try someday?

A) I want to fly in to Madrid one day and drive all the way down toSevilla and stay there for a very long time.

Q) How important is self-promotion for an artist nowadays?

A) Well, What can I say an artist should be able to promote one selfwell with out giving away ones soul. It's important to have a business approach that is kind of separate from ones creative practice. Its a slippery slope, But you have to be in it to win it...

Q) Would you say that your work consciously reflects characters and situations found within your daily life?

A) Yes. My work is very situational. And I am always open to theworld around me. One of my favorite things to do is people watch. NewYork is great for people watching. My surroundings affect my work alot.

Q) Favourite book?

A) One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Márquez.

Q) Designers/Artists you admire?

A) My favorite artist of all time is Goya. I look at art history all the time for ideas and inspiration it is a very important aspect of my creative process and currently stylistically I like artist like PeterDoig, Daniel Richter, Neo Rauch, Kerry James Marshall, and Many others my tastes are always changing I love to rediscover artists over time.Its the magic of art, If its really good its timeless...

Q) Your contacts….e-mail…links…

A) You can find my contact info on my web site www.christiancuriel.com or the gallery's web site

www.lehmannmaupin.com also I work with a collaborative www.fecuop.com

check it out some time. The interview was fun, Thanks!