The Best ofIntima & Swim Edit
Andrea Hurtarte and the connecting force of watercolours
03 March 2022
Boldness and evanescence, strength and vulnerability, the duality of the female body, all this strikes you when face to face with the work of the Canadian artist which appears such a perfect match with the sensibility intrinsic to intimates
With a deconstructed color palette which evokes the human skin, sinuous lines and the clear influence of Wabi Sabi art, the work of Andrea Hurtarte is both captivating and profound while being dominated by a feeling of lightness and fluidity. Her emotionally evocative compositions aim to draw in the viewer revealing intimate situations, aspects of the human experience, and evidence of the mindset/process of the artist. We spoke to the Montreal based artist to take you through her inspiring creative process.
Andrea, can you tell us about your background and how you came to devote yourself to art?
I have always been fascinated with creating as well as taking in images. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved drawing and painting. My art supplies have always been my most precious possessions. I cannot describe the exact satisfying feeling I get when drawing or painting, it is simply second nature to me. I have a Bachelors, as well as a Master’s in architecture from the Université de Montréal. It is actually during my last year of undergrad, completing my bachelors abroad, in Rio de Janeiro, that I enrolled in a watercolor class for the first time. Though completely unexpectedly, I fell in love with the medium. The following year I came back to Montréal to complete my Masters, after which I started working in the field. It wasn’t long after, maybe 2 or 3 years, that I decided it wasn’t for me. In 2018 I quit my architecture job and started ANML studio, where I explore visual art.
What is your relationship with art and the watercolor as a means of artistic expression?
For me, art is mainly a way of communicating: communicating through history, between cultures or simply a way of expressing one’s self in order to process emotion. The fact that you can connect with another person that you have never even met, at such a profound level that you can actually evoke a reaction within them, is magical to me. It can create the feeling, for both parties, of being seen, of being understood. I love how art can just cut through everything and just get straight to the feeling, putting it all out there for everyone to see and those interested in having that exchange with you are paying attention.
Earlier in life, I would have never thought that watercolor would become my medium of choice. My architecture studies taught me about the poetry of materials and to let textures speak for themselves. Watercolor is so elegant and dynamic, it can really surprise you. It is such a simple and humble medium, you literally just have to add water to start. However, as with everything simple, there is less room to hide. In a way, this is what I appreciate with watercolor, that it requires me to be quick, instinctive and to trust the visceral side of myself. This way of working with watercolor allows me to do really authentic pieces. Even hesitation shows up on the paper when you are working with watercolor, it really captures your state of mind and spirit.
What inspires you when you create?
Love, color, well-being, happiness and the desire to bring something precious to others. Life is a very motivating force in my practice. The love I receive from friends, family and the fullness I have from the privilege of travel and experiencing other art forms, such as music shows, art expos, etc. Those experiences stay with you for such a long time and can continue fueling your own creations without you even realizing it. I think a lot of my work is done out of gratefulness, as a way or a place to put all the appreciation I have for all the beautiful things in life. Last but definitely not least I draw a lot of inspiration to create from my city, Montreal is a beautiful place to be and experience.
Your work focuses particularly on the female body. What fascinates you about it?
I believe that what keeps me so tied to the subject is that my work is self-reflective and the familiarity I have with the female body allows me to better express myself through it. It is fascinating to me because it is the experience that I know. I love the duality that exists within the female body, the strength and vulnerability that is required to bend the limits of the human body without it ever breaking. How this seemingly soft body, often portrayed as just delicate, is actually in a continuous relationship with pain and is in fact capable of so much more than the fragility we been historically branded with. Furthermore, my art is very intimate and as I have mentioned, art, for myself, is essentially a way to communicate. By using the human body to convey meaning, I am using a reference that we are all instantly familiar with and I exploit our commonality in order to quickly relate a certain feeling, emotion or state of being.
What is your relationship with color?
To some people I might seem obsessed with color. When I started ANML studio, I would spend hours simply swatching colors, trying to get to the exact shade that would feel just right, and I would try to memorize the pigment combinations that I liked best. I remember being a teenager, sitting in the bus, looking at clouds and dissecting every single color and shade of it in my head. Some colors just make me feel good and some color combinations just feel right. I love colors!
Does your architectural background in any way influence your work?
A lot. It shows up in my artwork, in the references I use, in my style as well as in my thoroughness and discipline. My black line style is directly derived from architectural diagrams I used to do.
Strength and vulnerability are two major themes in your work. Could you expand on that?It wasn’t really something I set out to do. It just happened. I initially wanted to portray women I was drawn to, to their body, to their attitude and what transpired is that I am attracted to the authenticity found in vulnerability. I admire that. I love dichotomy, duality, contrast and balancing forces. There is so much strength in allowing yourself to be vulnerable and in vulnerability, there is such a freedom in the act of abandoning yourself to something or someone. Not to mention that giving yourself to something/someone implies trust and intimacy, both of which are also very important to me. It is through vulnerability that we grow, learn and connect meaningfully with others.
You collaborated with Noemie Vaillancourt to create a magical garment collection. Could you tell us about that experience?
It is always a privilege to work with someone as passionate about their craft as you are. I was so happy when she approached me with the idea to collaborate. I had seen her work and admired her eye. I am happy to have been lucky enough to work with her. I think we both learned a lot from the collaboration and are better at what we do because of it.
Sokoloff lingerie also turned to your artwork for the packaging of their eco-friendly basics line. Do you think you might collaborate in the field of intimate apparel again?
First of all, I was so happy that Sokoloff reached out to partner up for the packaging of her eco-friendly line. I was so flattered by her appreciation of my work, and it was super generous of her to spotlight my art in such a way. You always learn so much when collaborating with other creatives. I would love to collaborate with a lingerie brand again, I love intimate apparel. My work is often instilled with sensuality, and I believe it would make for another great collaboration.
In which direction do you see your work developing in future?
I want to master my craft, I want to become better at what I do! Also, I want to keep connecting with people through my work. Though I would love to be the type of person to plan out every next step, I am more of a go with the flow type and then I see where that takes me. I enjoy the process of seeing things unfold organically, all the while trusting that putting in the work will lead me to the right place without forcing anything.
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