Del Carrer d’Avinyó au Bateau Lavoir | Acrylic on linen smooth canvas | 90 x 150 cm | 2015

Briefly describe the work you do. 

Right now, I’m working in my own project called “imaginary destinations”. With this artworks, I want to create my personal metaphor of the 3D virtual worlds. 

I intend to reflect on the relationship between the real and the virtual, through the pictorial and the digital, combining paintings, digital photography and 3D computer graphics.

In the other hand, I want to convert the exhibition spaces into hybrid imaginary destinations, and the public into avatars (inhabitants and visitors), focusing on everything from real to virtual including, virtual reality and augmented virtuality, investigating what motivates users in different use cases. In relation to can reflect about it, is my intention to provide the project with a theoretical context through a wider set of issues.

Tell us about your background and how that has had an influence on your work and on you as an artist.

I began painting canvases and graffiti in 1992, and I have been surrounded by artists, professors and paintings since that time. From 1993 to 1998, I attended the Fine Arts and Graphic Design School “Groc” in Barcelona, as a painting and ceramics major. In 2006, I obtained a DNAP, at the “École supérieure des Beaux Arts de Perpignan” (France) in Fine Arts. Between 2006 and 2007 I obtained a post-graduate degree in 3D Computer Graphics at Escola d’Informática i Oficis de Barcelona and a second post-graduate degree in 3D Computer Graphics at the Autodesk Training Center of Barcelona.

What has most influenced me in the artistic way, was my multidisciplinary training, but above all else, the years I was studying 3D Computer Graphics in Barcelona. This training has decisively influenced my digital and pictorial works since the year 2006. Currently my practice includes acrylic and watercolour paintings, 3D computer graphics and augmented reality.

Elephant ride Through Montmartre | Acrylic on linen smooth canvas | 80 x 100 cm | 2015

The concept of the artist studio has a broad range of meanings in contemporary practice. Artists may spend much of their time in the actual studio, or they may spend very little time in it. Tell us about your individual studio practice and how it differs from or is the same as traditional notions of “being in the studio.”

At present, I have my art studio at home. I spend most of my time there. So, my individual studio practice is the same as traditional notions of “being in the studio.” It would also be possible to splitting my practice into two parts: The development of digital art concepts with my computer and then, the painting of this concepts with acrylic or watercolour paints. 

What roles do you find yourself playing that you may not have envisioned yourself in when you first started making art?

As a full-time artist,  I take on many different roles. Beside I’m a very active person, always doing the most productive tasks I can to move things forward in my artistic project. When I’m not painting, I’m creating new art concepts, updating my website, managing my social media platforms, accounting tasks, etc. But sincerely I had not envisioned myself doing anything other than paint.

When do you find is the best time to make art? Do you set aside a specific time everyday or do you have to work whenever time allows?

I’m focusing on my project almost all the day, and I think that almost any time of day is perfect.

Zeppelin’s Mobile Airport | Digital painting | 2015

How has your work changed in the past five years? How is it the same?

So, actually, the process has been gradual. Until 2006, everything I paint, was in the traditional hand-drawing way. Then, I took nearly five years (from 2006 to 2011), that what almost everything I created were digital images. And finally, in the past five years, little by little I have combined the acrylic and watercolours with 3d Computer Graphics to such extent that 3D CGI, is the basis for my current project.

How have people such as family, friends, writers, philosophers, other artists or even pop icons had an impact on the work you do?

Because I live very close to Barcelona, I’m sure I’ve been influenced by Catalan art nouveau and Gothic architecture. But my main influences are the surreal works of Dali, the neosurrealist works of George Grie, and I should add that I like a lot the works of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington.

Have you ever been pulled in the direction of a pursuit other than being an artist? What are your other interests? 

Yes, a long time ago, I started to study Japanese, I wanted to be translator of Spanish-Japanese. I love the Japanese culture. These are the main reasons why a lot of Japanese characters and architectonic elements from the Japanese culture, appears on some of my artworks.

About

My name is José Galán, I was born in Barcelona (Spain) in 1977. I am a multidisciplinary artist and my practice includes acrylic and watercolour paintings, 3D computer graphics and augmented reality. I began painting canvases and graffiti in 1992, and I have been surrounded by artists, professors and paintings since that time. From 1993 to 1998, I attended the Fine Arts and Graphic Design School “Groc” in Barcelona as a painting and ceramics major. In 2006, I have a DNAP, at the “École supérieure des Beaux Arts de Perpignan” (France) in Fine Arts. Between 2006 and 2007 I obtained a post-graduate degree in in 3D Computer Graphics at Escola d’Informática i Oficis de Barcelona and a second post-graduate degree in 3D Computer Graphics at the Autodesk Training Center of Barcelona.

I’ve been participating in Art Fairs in the United States and Europe like ArtExpo New York (USA) in April 2015, and Art Shopping París (France) at Carrousel du Louvre, Spring edition in June 2015. I’ve been selected for the 1st International Modern Art Fair at Schloss Neuberg (Austria) in July 2015, as well as for the 1st International Modern Art Austria Biennale (14-30 august 2015) at Castle Hubertendorf in Blindenmarkt, Austria.

I’ve been participating in Collectives exhibitions like “International modern Artists today” (from 27 march to 9 april 2015), “Magic World of Art” (from 24 April to 17 May 2015) and “Expression of the colors” (from 23 May to 28 June 2015) in Schloss Hubertendorf, Blindenmarkt (Austria) with Paks Gallery. My latest solo exhibitions toke place in Casa Sagnier (Barcelona) from 9 to 27 February 2015, and Centre Cívic Sarrià, Barcelona (Spain) from July 1st to July 31st 2015, showing watercolours made between 2013 and 2014. 

This Fall-Winter, I will take part in Contemporary Art Salon of Blindenmarkt (from October 3rd to 18th 2015) on Castle Hubertendorf (Blindenmarkt, Austria), Art Shopping París 2015 (from October 23th to 25th), Contemporary Art Salon of Montreux (from November 4th to 8th, 2015) and some more… I am currently represented by Mahlstedt Gallery (USA), The Public House of Art (Netherlands), and Paks Gallery (Austria).

All images copyright of the artist and used with their permission.