Introduce and interview with Mario Sevilla Mexican artist.
Could we start with some background information?
I guess I was always interested in arts / aesthetics, I was born in Guadalajara, México and I always rather be painting or drawing than playing with any other toys. My parents always were very supportive with that aspect and I remember very well my mother giving me as a present my very first book of art, one of Picasso, that was a huge influence on me and the way I see art, then, there was the arts and nature encyclopedias, I was always mesmerised by that subjects, I think that and 80s horror movies were the most important influence in my youth and until today. Later I studied graphic design, and I’ve work on that for 12 years now, first in an advertising agency, and now by myself.
What makes you to do many selfies but not often photograph other people?
I usually do photography as a therapy or catharsis, so I can take out mainly the fears or anxiety I have inside, so I thing the best wa to do it is through my own body. And also because I always have myself on hand, so if I feel creative any time, I can create something right away.
Do you remember the first artistic selfie what you ever took?
I think it was in the university, when I was taking photography class, I decided to do a self-portrait of me and my fears, it was a red faced devil with yellow eyes (I wish I have the pic, but I couldn’t find it), and i think what I do is kind of the same excercise in different ways.
What is your creative prosess for your selfie series?
I’m always watching art, photography, fashion, music, movies, theatre, and I’m always taking notes in my phone or my moleskine of ideas that are coming to my brain (usually the best ones come at night), then I try to match that with how I feel at the moment, it’s a kind of a mix of experimenting and vomiting fears and feelings.
You doing design, photography, collages… which is your one true passion?
My true passion is visual design / visual creation, I dont’ consider myself a photographer, I’m a designer that most of the time works with photography, and collage is a technique I like to use to do that, but I think that what I’m doing all the time is designing.
What is your favorite hobbie aside of your art?
I love music, I’m listening to music all the time (right now I’m listening my favourite band TR/ST), and I love cinema, plastic arts, dance and theatre, everything that has to do with aesthetics, I love.
How does a typicial day of Mario look like?
I work independent right now, so I work at home, I usually wake up late I’ve never been a morning person, I’m more like a vampire. So I wake up, I do a bit of meditation, take a shower, breakfast, and then, when I feel ready, I start to work, mostly graphic design work, I use to go to the movies or something on the afternoon, and then, at night, is when I feel super active and creative, so I use to work in personal projects or keep on working ‘till is very very late.
What is your next to do today?
Right now is 3:15 AM, and I feel like photoshoping something, I gess I’m going to open Photoshop and start editing some photos to upload to instagram tomorrow.
Find more: @monstruorama / www.behance.net/monstruohance