GETTING TO KNOW:
SONIA ALINS
Hi Sonia.
Congratulations on being shortlisted
for the Cluster Illustration Residency 2021!
Medusa
How would you introduce yourself to the Cluster readers?
Hello! I am a Spanish illustrator and artist. Surrealism, Romanticism, feminism and poetry are all key concepts in my art, these usually relate
to my inner world and femininity. My artworks are assemblages
made of different materials. I play with the idea of transparency,
blurred boundaries and tri dimensionality to create ethereal atmospheres.
How did you get here on your creative journey?
It really all started when I received a proposal for a solo exhibition from the Espai Cavallers Gallery here in my home city of Lleida, close to Barcelona. This represented a great challenge, and I dedicated months to experiment in my studio around some ideas that I had in mind. In the end, that period of research was crucial for me because it helped to define my current creative style.
Extraordinary Women
Into the Water
What drew you to illustration?
I started drawing at a very young age. It is present in many
of my childhood memories. Drawing was one of my favourite activities, and I spent a lot of time doing it. Also, my family, teachers and classmates valued my drawings in a very positive way, so I grew up believing
that I had a special ability. It became a perfect tool to express
what I want to communicate.
Mar en Calma | Dones d_Aigua
Tell us about the work you submitted…
For the Cluster Residency Award I submitted a selection from my Dones d’Aigua series. These pieces consist
of subtle and delicate collages that show expressive figures emerging from an aquatic environment.
I utilise transparency and blurring effects creating different levels of perception, an ethereal atmosphere and giving depth. In this series I explored concepts such
as Surrealism, visual poetry and feminism.
How would you describe your creative style and way of working?
I’m heavily influenced by Surrealism and Romanticism. I feel deeply connected
to the feminine iconography of the Romantic era, like Ingres’ Odalisques or John Everett Millais’ Ophelia, and also the Art Déco movement and Tamara de Lempicka
or Gustav Klimt’s symbolism.
As for my way of working, I’m focused on the creation of artworks where drawing
goes beyond two dimensions, with assemblages made of transparent layers
and other materials. This is inspired by the likes of Yves Klein and the three-dimensional pieces of Joseph Cornell..
Japanese Swimmers
Keywords to define your imagery?
#water #emotions #poetry #femininity #weightlessness #innerpeace
Hacia el Fondo del Mar
El Beso
Social media and you: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Tell us all…
In my case, I can only thank social media because it’s given me
the opportunity to reach people around the world.
Opportunities like receiving a commission from Moleskine would
be unlikely without that. Also, I can communicate directly
with a lot of people and thank them for their support.
Thanks to social media (SM) there are no boundaries for art
to reach just about everywhere and, if you think about it,
the power of that is impressive. SM is a really valuable tool.
To me, the only negative aspect is that, at some point,
we all spend too much time on it.
Spirit and Roots
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
The satisfaction of working on what I love,
creating something new together with my partner
and of course, the chance to see my daughters grow up.
The Whale
Who are your idols?
There are artists that are a constant source of inspiration for me: Goya, Picasso, Francesca Woodman, El Bosco, Joseph Cornell, Yves Klein, and several artists
from the Romantic era such as Ingres, John Everett Millais, Gustav Klimt
or Tamara de Lempicka.
What’s on your creative calendar
for the near future?
I’ll keep working on the series Dones d’Aigua,
and I have also started planning two exciting projects
that I would like to make a reality sooner rather than later:
an illustrated book with my artworks in partnership
with my brother who is a writer and a new exhibition
with my partner (and husband), Juanjo.
The Beautiful Red Reefs
The swimmers
Personal motto/mantra?
I love those sentences that encourage you, that help you see things in a positive way. My mantra would be:
Every day is an opportunity and Fulfil your soul with the beauty of the Universe.
Tips, tricks and secrets for making it in the art world?
Trust yourself and your art, go for each opportunity, meet people, be kind, push yourself every day and never stop dreaming.
Dona d_Aigua
Works by Sonia Alins are available through the Cluster shop.
Thank you for reading,
Valeria, Daniel & Cluster Team.
You can find Sonia also on:
Instagram & her website