Today we’d like to introduce you to Pedro Real.
Hi Pedro, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I think that what makes me create art has, in a way, always been with me – ever since I was a kid, I could never really just accept authority if I couldn’t see reason behind it. I would tell my teachers I would gladly comply with any rules, so long as they could explain them to me. It’s part of what makes me feel like myself, which is why I think the idea for Paris 68 stuck with me. My newest show is about the protests in Paris, May 1968. It’s my work I am most proud of, and part of that is because of the revolutionary hues of this event. My admiration for the bravery and courage of the protestors brought out the best of me. It was an unmatched privilege to be able to create and share this work, and the conversations that it brought forward have been so enriching. Working with this subject fundamentally changed me as a person and as a creator. Probably made me a bit more stubborn, but for sure it made me a lot more insightful!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In general terms, I cant really complain much, as I foresaw that painting these shows would be a vastly bigger hassle. Yet, naturally, there were some challenges that arose. The sheer scale of these canvases, which go up to over 7ft tall, posed a plethora of challenges. Figuring out the materials that worked best, A workflow that could feasibly accommodate the volume of work I needed to get done, and handling the physical strain that came from working with these large mediums definitely wasn’t easy. But even then, I don’t think that would make me feel challenged on its own. The real core issue was just how emotional these compositions were. Any creative who has tried to portray struggle, hurt, frustration, knows exactly how taxing it can be to immerse yourself in the mindset necessary to tastefully depict these harsh feelings. I think that really caused mental exhaustion to the point where the process got overwhelming at times. Thankfully, I knew how to time and manage my workload and make sure my studio remained neat and organized, which really helped me get through painting.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Wow. You’d think it ́d be easier to define yourself – This is hard! I guess you could call me a painter. I have dabbled in other art forms, but nothing is quite like
painting to me. I create something that I call “Modern expressionism”. I try to incorporate unique practical techniques in my pieces. As I said, My latest show, Paris 68, is the work I am most proud of. The show is about the relation between the May 1968 protests ( and protesting in general) to graffiti. To me, art is the world’s most powerful form of democracy, and graffiti is the world’s most democratic art form. I think that my work is different from other “protest art”. I don’t consider myself a political artist, which is what qualifies my “political” work as interesting. Whilst I am celebrating the spirit of rebelliousness with my work, I am not just doing it for the sake of being provocative or edgy. I like to believe I succeeded in endowing my protestors with an air of nobility. I am commemorating their virtues in the face of oppression, and being mindful every step of the way. I value expression, democracy, righteousness, authenticity, and bravery. My work connects with people because they share in my will to cherish these qualities. Everything else just follows.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Most of what I see has something of value I can pull to my life. Still, I find that books are usually the most enriching form of resources I can use – a bit cliché, but still, it’s for a reason! The occasional book on art and design is definitely on rotation for me, in fact, I just finished a great book on Magritte. Still, I definitely try to unwind and not think creatively when I’m reading, watching, or listening. Or else I’ll keep trying to figure out what the process for making something is, and I won’t really enjoy it. I think that more importantly than recommending any given book, film or podcast, I´ll recommend that you exercise mindfulness when you’re exploring a resource to make the most out of it, regardless of its content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pedroreal.art
- Instagram: @artistpedroreal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@real52art
Image Credits
Personal and Studio Picture By Yuri Félix Das Neves
Final Pictures by Pedro Mamoré
