Interview: Monica Alba
Luca Curci talks with Monica Alba during the 12th edition of CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2023, at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello.

Monica Alba studied Architecture and Interior Design both in Mexico and Spain. She developed a career in the Art world in 2018. Her first exhibition was a duo show, earlier this year called “En mi Mar” (Veracruz, Mexico 2023). Later she participated in an international collective exhibition in Milan. Through her abstract style paintings, inspired mainly by the ocean and feelings, she aims to pay homage to the natural world in which we live and its constant changes, being a reflection of human emotions that also change throughout life. In her work, Monica uses different techniques such as acrylics, pastels, and mediums on canvas.

Luca Curci – Which subject are you working on?
Monica Alba – I am currently working on a series named “Colours”, in which I work with each colour in an artwork expressing what it means. For example for the colour Green, the artwork is called “Vida” (Life in English) making a reference to giving birth to a child, coming to the world, the hope of life itself. Right now I’m working on blue, making a reference to the sea itself, stability, inspiration, and being confident about one’s work.

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
MA – I started painting in my teenage years firstly as a hobby, took some painting classes and kept developing on my own. I have tried pencil colours on paper, watercolour, and finally, I’ve landed on acrylic at the moment. As an interior architect, design and art have always been by my side, but it was not until 2017, while studying in Spain, that I decided to focus completely on the abstract style trying different techniques and mediums after being a little more related with different cultures, experiences and places.

LC – Among the several techniques you use, which one do you prefer to practice and which of them are most compelling for you?
MA – My favourite technique is acrylic with a thick look, so I use different mediums to make a thick texture such as gesso and marble dust. In addition, I like to use gold leaf in small amounts to have a shining look at some points. I have also tried with pastels and watercolours, it’s very exciting to just “play around” with the materials given and discover the textures you can get, I tend to use a lot of looks of drops, as if the paint was dropping.

LC – What do you think about art on social media? Are they turning into the new showcases of contemporary art?
MA – In this era, social media has become part of our daily lives, not only for entertainment, which could have been the intention behind it at first. As creatives, I think we need to keep social media close and use it wisely because it helps to reach a much bigger audience in different parts of the world, it’s important to mention that connecting with other people through art can be very fulfilling, not only business related, especially when you are starting in your practice. Social Media is a cannel to see that there is a whole world out there, with so many creative minds, so I believe that a benefit out of it is being inspired by other’s work. At the same time, I think it’s important that we keep in constant adaptation.

LC – What issues do you intend to deal with in the future?
MA – I think we live in a very imbalanced world in every aspect, so it’s important that we remain humble and be reminded that we are humans after all and we have feelings and emotions. The world can be very mean at times, especially when it’s full of competition out there, but the advantage I find in the art world is that since we all are unique, we can eventually find our own style, colours, and process. It’s all very personal after all.

LC – In which way the artwork presented in our exhibition is connected with the exhibition’s theme?
MA – The artwork presented is an abstract representation of emotions and beauty. The main colour is violet with hints of gold; I, as a Mexican woman, try to express what I’ve seen and what I’m surrounded by in my direct context through my own language, which is my unique painting style. I believe that each person changes as time passes and not just time, but also with experiences lived with other people and in different places or cities; and we need to remember that that’s what actually unites us, that we, in body and soul, are made of many different experiences. That being said, it’s totally “mixing” identities, and just by the fact that many international artists are participating, the borders are gone, and there is no
limited landscape.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
MA – What I tried to represent in this artwork “Lavanda” is an emotion. Beauty is strongly represented and the thing about beauty is that it’s very different from everyone’s point of view; that makes it more interesting. We can find beauty in everyday things, in people, in someone’s way of treating us and in other’s actions.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
MA – I loved participating in this exhibition, it’s a good way to open doors or, if the case more doors, for artists at every level. I also learned from other artists around the world. This is my second experience working with an international gallery and I think it’s very fulfilling both for my journey as an artist and career and also for me personally. So I encourage other artists to participate with galleries whenever they have the opportunity, you never know who is watching.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
MA – The platform is easy to follow, also in social media, especially Instagram, the announcements are clear and if you ask for information the response is very kind and fast. I’ve read other artists’ interviews, it’s all very clear, you can go from the website to the other ITSLIQUID platforms, so definitely a good choice.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
MA – Personally I was a little late with the due dates when I realized, but when I reached out to the organizers for guidance it was very easy and clear, which made me not to be stressed, and that’s very important. I just followed all the requirements they asked for, and everything has been as was explained, the dates and everything on time. So congratulations on the event and the many more to come.