In this exclusive interview for PLOM, Romperayos explains how she became an artist with Superpowers.
This is how it is presented Romperayos,Ana Truan ‘s artistic name , on her website: “Welcome to my universe. 1: I love animals because they are authentic and honest; 2: I believe in the power of the Aurora Borealis; 3: The Big Dipper helps me not to get lost in the dark nights; 4: I make socks of parallel worlds and cute animals, and 5: From time to time I paint pictures”.
We also know that this Barcelona-based artist was born in Cantabria in 1984.
PLOM: Is it Lightning Rod Breaker or Lightning Rod Breaker?
ROMPERAYOS: Good question, initially it was Rompe Rayos. When I made the profile in social networks I simply put the two words together breaking the spelling rules because I thought it was funny. Since then, it has stayed that way, “Romperayos”, although I have to say that I am also Ana Truan.
SHOP
From graffiti to acrylic
PLOM: Did you draw as a child? When did you start drawing?
ROMPERAYOS: Since I was a little girl I have loved creating things and the world of art. I remember spending hours sitting and drawing and thinking about my fantasies of fairies, mermaids, trolls…. Like everyone, I’ve gone through periods: when I was 4-5 years old I painted with crayons, tempera; then, there was a time when I was into collages and I did nothing but collect magazines to tear them to pieces; as a teenager I had a period of graffiti; then, oil painting; now, my favorites are acrylics… that I combine with other things.
PLOM: Who introduced you to the art world? Any special person?
ROMPERAYOS: My parents were key. I grew up surrounded by books, music, movies and art. They instilled in me a love of art. My mother loved paintings. I remember as a little girl asking my parents to take art books down from the shelf because I wanted to look at them to make a particular drawing I had seen.
SHOP
Miró and the Superpowers of Art
PLOM: Tell us something about your childhood in relation to the art world.
ROMPERAYOS: I remember an exhibition we did at school about Joan Miró in the auditorium when I was about 8 years old. Each child painted a version of our favorite painting and several paintings in XL version by groups. Then we organized an exhibition in which each representative explained the history of his painting and Miró’s work. It was a great experience with my classmates that I remember fondly.
PLOM: Do you believe in the Superpowers of Art? When did you discover that art transforms the world and people?
ROMPERAYOS: Of course, art has the superpower to transcend time and cultures, to take you to parallel realities, wherever you are. I discovered this as a child. I’ve always had a lot of imagination and I’ve always loved art. When I was about 12 years old I discovered the work of Marc Chagall. Along with Frida Kahlo, they are the artists that I find most revealing and transformative. His works are dreams. They marked me a lot.
SHOP
The Romperayos socks
PLOM: What is your Superpower?
ROMPERAYOS: I guess you could say it’s to get out of the boring routine and teleport me to a world of color, distant galaxies, jungle worlds or Africa.
PLOM: When and how do you like to work? In the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening? In your studio, outdoors? In silence, with music? Accompanied by friends, surrounded by animals?
ROMPERAYOS: I am very nocturnal. I love to work at night, in the wee hours of the morning and alone. That’s when I find the most inspiration. I’m usually so focused on what I’m doing that I don’t even remember to put on music.
PLOM: What are you working on right now?
ROMPERAYOS: Right now the novelty is ceramics and socks. I’m taking my paintings to another dimension and I’m really enjoying it. Suddenly my animals become everyday objects or masks. The other project I am immersed in is a capsule of socks. In December last year I released a small one with one model and, given the good reception it got, I’m about to launch the next one, called “Stellar Animals”, with 4 models. As you can see, it’s all about animals and universes. It is very gratifying to see your work beyond the canvas.
A fantasy world without limits
PLOM: Do you think that some of your works may appeal more to children than to adults? Why is that?
ROMPERAYOS: My works have a naive touch that, in addition to appealing to adults, I am lucky that children like them. I try to get out of the everyday life and transport people to a fantasy world. I use a lot of primary colors, pinks, greens, rainbows, leopards, crocodiles, dinosaurs, flying eyes, universes….. This may be the secret.
PLOM: What interests you more: the opinion of an influential critic or that of an 8-year-old child?
ROMPERAYOS: What interests me most are the sincere opinions wherever they come from. It is clear that in this dichotomy the children win by a landslide.
PLOM: What do you think of PLOM Gallery?
ROMPERAYOS: Plom is a gallery with a new concept and a mission that goes far beyond selling artwork for children. I love this: the cultural role of art in the daily life of children, as another element. Encouraging the superpowers of art in people and children. At PLOM, children are taught to be artists and to unleash their creativity, to preserve and enhance it without limits. I find it very inspiring and I think we need many more PLOMs around the world.
