We interviewed Martina Manyà, on the occasion of her exhibition at PLOM Gallery, entitled Quadrat2, which opens this Saturday, April 14, at 17:30hrs.
Children (and adults accompanying them) will be able to participate in the exhibition by selecting and combining the pieces on display as they wish.
Don’t miss it!
Martina Manyà is an artist born in Barcelona in 1983.
She studied Fine Arts in Barcelona.
In 2006, she enjoyed an Erasmus at the Escola Superior de Belas Artes in Lisbon.
Now, she lives between Barcelona and Lisbon.
An artist between Lisbon and Barcelona
PLOM: When did you start drawing? MARTINA: I don’t remember the exact moment.
I think I’ve been drawing forever. PLOM: Who initiated you in the art world? MARTINA: My father is a designer.
He taught at the Escola Massana.
At home there was a lot of creativity.
I remember there were two things I could ask my parents for whenever I felt like it: books and material for painting and drawing. PLOM: When did you start taking being an artist seriously? MARTINA: I had a hard time deciding.
There were many other things that also interested me.
When I had to start making decisions, I started to opt for drawing.
First, with the artistic baccalaureate; then, with Fine Arts.
Then, with illustration.
For the last 5 years I have been freelance and I combine commercial commissions with personal work.
When I was a child, I remember thinking that I wanted to be a painter when I grew up so that I could paint all day long and, above all, take vacations whenever I wanted. 
Martina Manyà (we can see her sneakers), combining monotypes on her work table.
In Art, children grasp everything
PLOM: Do you believe in the Superpowers of Art? MARTINA: I believe in Art as a Supervehicle of Communication, capable of opening minds and sensibilities, and, therefore, transform thoughts.
Thoughts that, in the end, can in turn transform the world and people. PLOM: How do you like to work? MARTINA: Alone.
I concentrate more.
During the day, but not from very early in the morning.
It depends on where I am in the process, I prefer to work in one place or another.
Sketching outdoors, for example, or looking for references and reading, at home.
I can paint at home or in the studio, with the computer.
Of course: always, always, always with music. 
Secret, by Martina Manyà. Limited series of 50 numbered and signed copies.
In our SHOP.
PLOM: Do you think children like your work? MARTINA: Color plays an essential role in my work and I think this is a point of connection with children. PLOM: What interests you more: the opinion of an adult critic or that of an 8-year-old child? MARTINA: I am interested in both.
But the opinion of an 8-year-old is more authentic and is not conditioned by any discourse or trend.
Children grasp everything.
Martina Manyà presents the exhibition Quadrat2
PLOM: Explain to us what Quadrat2, the exhibition you’re opening this week at PLOM Gallery, is all about. MARTINA: The exhibition is intended to be an interactive installation.
On one wall, there will be a mosaic mural created from modular monotypes, so that the public, especially children, will be encouraged to create their own composition by choosing which pieces they like.
The idea is that all attendees “build” a piece to take home.
On the other walls of the gallery, pieces chosen by me and already framed will be exhibited. 
(WHAT IS A MONOTYPE? An illustration obtained using the printing process called MONOTYPE, which consists of painting directly on a rigid support and printing on paper or canvas before the paint dries. Only one print can be made).
PLOM: How long did it take you to prepare this exhibition? MARTINA: It has been a long process.
I started by making monotypes on 7.5 x 7.5 cm paper.
I spent several weeks doing them.
I had to familiarize myself with the technique, choose the colors, etc… Once all the squares were printed, the premise was to play with them: put them together, move them, rotate them and combine them to create different rhythms and shapes.
After trying many combinations, suddenly there came a moment when the composition worked and I considered it finished.
Martina Manyà wants you to participate in Quadrat2
PLOM: Will it be possible to play with your monotypes in your exhibition? MARTINA: Yes.
The idea is that people, especially children, who go to the exhibition can reproduce the same process of playing with the little squares.
They will be able to choose the modules they want from the mosaic mural and combine them into smaller compositions.
Create their own puzzle. Quadrat2 is an invitation to play with shapes, rhythm and colors, and with their combinations, just as I have done when setting up the exhibition. 
Papà, by Martina Manyà. Limited series of 50 numbered and signed copies.
In our SHOP.
PLOM: What do you think of PLOM Gallery? MARTINA: I think it can be a place of inspiration and stimulation for children.
I like to imagine that PLOM can motivate children to make their own drawings even more eagerly when they get home.
The exhibition Quadrat2, by Martina Manyà, opens on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., at PLOM Gallery. (C/ Sèneca, 31).
We invite you to create your own compositions with monotypes chosen by your kids.
