Interview: Javier Garlo opens up about his intense love for art

Well-known for his artworks that meet the eye and evoke emotion through an expression of skill and imagination, Javier Garlo is a Spanish visual artist who uses symbolism to display his reflections in art. Javier transcends the subjective experience of a piece of art, where his paintings became immensely expressive psychological profiles, rather than realistic, objective depictions of our world. His works are personal and express his own ideologies, particularly the belief in the power to reveal the truth.

We caught Javier Garlo after his very successful exhibition at 2B Art & Toys Gallery where he opened up about his art, inspirations, and dreams.

2B: How did you start? Do you remember your first artwork or mural?

JG: It all started as a game following the hip hop fashion in ’93 and the part that moved me the most was graffiti. My first graffiti was between 5 people. It was 14 years ago and it was in a booth just behind the house. SDP was the name of the graffiti group we had.

2B: What inspires you?

JG: I think it’s everyday life. Experiences and silence or solitude.

2B: Why urban art and not another type of art?

JG: I don’t see limits, in urban art everything has a place.

2B: Galleries, museums, or the streets?

JG: I would divide it into four: Galleries-museums-street walls-churches.

2B: Tell us a place where you always wanted to paint a mural?

JG: A church/cathedral.

2B: If you wanted your message to reach a specific audience in a powerful and transcendent way, where would you make your work or where would you place it?

JG: I guess also in a church or cathedral.

2B: Which technique do you most identify with?

JG: Pencil/charcoal. It’s my base.

2B: If you weren’t an artist, what would you have been?

JG: Craftsman and farmer.

2B: Do you think that Street Art today has ceased to be transgressive?

JG: Yes.

2B: Do you listen to music when you paint? If so, which one?

JG: Not always. But when I do it goes from Antonio Machín, through more current national/international alternative/indie music groups, or Rock classics. Depending on the mood.