Beyond art in advertising
by Isabel A
Anyone who knows Carlos Regueira is fascinated, from the get-go, by a vitality that throughout the years has not only failed to decrease, but has grown. If I were to write a book, Carlos would be, without question, one of my characters- the sort that draws you in, dominating the plot, taking with him the most beautiful girl (and, in fact, he did take her); the sort that has a captivating personality, maintaining the spirit of a time in which absolutely everything revolved around a sort of humanism that was expressed in literature, art and, of course, advertising. As expected, the character of my novel, in addition to being an Art Director, is also a painter – more professional than amateur – but with the confines of time that, for those of us that work in these madhouses called agencies, is quite limited.
Carlos, how did you first become interested in painting?
From a very young age, I could be seen with a pencil or a paintbrush in hand. There were many paintings at my house, as well as comics. My parents liked art and I had an uncle who was a painter and an art critic… I would spend the day painting and drawing. I stopped doing it when I began to work at agencies, although I did things sporadically, particularly illustration. I picked it up again, focusing on painting twelve or thirteen years ago.
What painters do you consider to be models for your work?
They’re quite classical. A large part of my work unconsciously owes a lot to Gustavo Torner. Other points of reference, whether because of their pallet or aesthetic or visual considerations, are Martínez Novillo, José Manuel Ciria, Luís Feito, Tàpies, Lucio Muñoz, Lamazares, among national artists and August Strindberg, Gerhard Richter, abstract expressionism and of course Turner, among foreign artists.
Until now, what places have had the opportunity to see and acquire your work?
My first individual exhibition was in 2004. Since then I’ve had four others, all of which were in Spain, and I was fortunate enough to participate in group exhibitions and art fairs in countries like Belgium, France, Austria and the Netherlands in Europe and New York, Miami, and San Diego in the US.
Any upcoming exhibitions?
In May I’m showing works from recent years in a very interesting, private space. And there is one other project, which is still in its very early stages. As for the rest, this last season turned out to be, fortunately, abundant in exhibitions, so I will be decreasing the rate of exhibitions in order to work on new pieces.
Lastly, what contemporary painters would you recommend?
Christ, that’s a difficult question! Since I like a bit of everything, here are a few names: Anselm Kiefer, Herbert Brandl, Gustavo Díaz Sosa, Barceló (I had to include him), Xiaboai Su (to name a Chinese artist, although there are loads and they’re spectacular)… and Fernando Martín Godoy, who is very graphic, conceptually interesting, and yet still very approachable. I could name three hundred…
For more information:
www.carlosregueira.artdoxa.com