RAQUEL AMAT

It is Sunday, the day of chill, so sit back and have a read of An Interview with A Vaulter with Raquel Amat.

How’s it going, Raquel?

Well- Such a compromised question these days. I guess like most people I am going to say-I’m “ok-ish” But Hey! Come on! I’m alive and I can create art so hell yeah, I am good.

This is what I try to tell myself every day. After ups and downs, being quite depressed and scared about life risk. Having a health immune deficiency made me panic a lot at the beginning and the panic has been a constant fight. Trying to find the balance and not becoming too overwhelmed, whilst looking towards the future! It has definitely been a challenge.

Technology and having to use it in new ways to survive as an artist. Spending more time on screens has made me actually want to communicate less with people. It may sound funny as in isolation what you want to do is to share and socialise, but as much as I miss people, I can’t cope with having to reply or deal with so much online communicating (funding applications, looking for/doing work and looking after family and friends).

I am normally very social and I miss hugging my dearest friends and family SO much but that does not mean I am willing to spend the day on the screen or replying. I found that the screen took much of my personal space even whilst in isolation.

However, I think if I do not find the passion or willingness to create and do stuff I would feel very bad. So, for now my worry is how to make that happen, how to be the best of myself, how to create art in this crazy new world while still trying to survive, be healthy and find income sources.

What is your living situation? Do you have an outside space or are you living in an underground bunker?

Yes, I do have a wee backyard that I have started transforming during these days into my break/outdoor space, but it is not yet ready for creating art. Though I have found it a nice way to spend time by myself, decorating and making a new cute chilling space. I just started living alone during isolation lockdown, something I am not used to, and putting some time in the garden has actually helped cheer me up a bit. The backyard has recently become my new dance practice space which is great.

How has the pandemic affected your arts practice?

Many of you may not know about my art practice. I am an interdisciplinary printmaker. I work with anything related to and combined with print, including ceramics and bookmaking or book installation. Usually, most of my print work was performed at Belfast Print workshop due to equipment needs, however, I was making ceramics and artists books in the Vault Currently the only work I have been doing at home has been related to bookmaking, even though I just got some materials to do hand pulled prints at home.

But I would say the hardest hit was related to the loss of my main full time work and main source of income. I have worked as the Technician and Tutor at the Belfast Print Workshop for the last 5 years. My contract finished during the pandemic. The contract hasn’t been renewed and other possibilities of interviews for jobs were also cancelled due to the pandemic. This has left me with no job and therefore no income. I have had all the time in the world to work on my art but during the lockdown I had to focus and spend that time on how I was going to make money for living and paying bills.

So, since I am Spanish and have an official qualification from the Cervantes Institute, I started teaching Spanish again and that has helped me pay for food. But it leaves me with very little time or energy to create art of my own.

How are you coping with the temporary closure of the Vault?

Having to move art stuff from the studio to the house means I can hardly walk around my home! (I laughed) Everything is in the way. Working from home also means that I couldn’t do much of the messy or dirty work I would be doing at my Vault studio space. Here I do not have an office space to work in and as a result all work is performed or stays in the living room.

Space has been a big issue to do stuff but the fact that I couldn’t work with certain chemicals, ceramics or stains has been a big issue as well. The interaction with Vaulters is a big miss in my life, although the spirit remains in the community and keeps us bonded together- Coping with lockdown barriers- creativity wise, monetarily, physically and psychologically. Love this wee family! I can’t be more thankful to be part of this amazing community and can’t wait to see them all back, even if socially distant.

What do you appreciate during lockdown?

Being alive!!

The fact that the whole world had to stop and be pushed to slow down, at least for a while, makes us appreciate life more. Our relationship with others, with nature and with ourselves and moral values. It makes me appreciate other people but also myself, our worth and what we are all capable of. Exploring our potential in this very difficult time.

It has been amazing seeing what people do to cope with this situation as well as appreciating the willingness of coming together to support each other to get through this.

I can’t forget to mention gratefulness, I know that this is a thing that I appreciate better now, to be grateful for, even in this difficult time, because we don’t know what is going to happen next. I am really trying to practice and remember that everyday. It is challenging but a must, as well as saying to our dearest - How much we love them!

How do you imagine the future after lockdown?

I see the future as very uncertain. I don’t know what is more scary, the situation that we are in now or the one that is coming after lockdown. I think that the Art sector may suffer a lot for a while though hopefully that may bring the art communities together. It might completely swap the balance in the opposite way. Bringing new ways of creating, connecting and expanding-Sharing art to the public in a longer more sustainable manner.

I hope that this lockdown will make people value the arts more with support and an approach toward artists and art that is kinder and more appreciative.

Where can people find you online?

Although I am still forever working on it, you can see some of my work on my website: www.raquelamatparra.com