The artist Ignasi Monreal (left) in the Pirámide Cestia or Pirámide de Cayo Cestio.
He is the pampered artist of fashion. Their collaborations with Gucci, Bulgari and Vogue precede him. He has also conquered artists like Dua Lipa, Rosalía or Fka Twigs (and she has shone with them), and surely your collection of Oil paints Plats Bruts. The artist Ignasi Monreal is one of the young Spanish talents with more international projection, whose creative steps are always interesting and attract attention.
Centrale Montemartini, one of Ignasi's favorite spots in Rome.
"I went through many experiences and jobs before realizing that I could dedicate myself to this," he tells us. "When I was a kid, it didn't even occur to me that it could be a profession. Anyway, I appreciate being so naive, because it was that ingenuity that helped me to continue working without expecting anything in return, which has led me to where I am today: happy to be able to choose my projects and work only on things I believe in”, finishes off the Barcelonan, who had the opportunity to work with David Delfin.
His singular gaze, which combines classicism and contemporaneity, classical painting and digital art, results in engaging visual fables, spiced with elements of pop culture.
One of the images from the Etnia Barcelona campaign.
Of his collaborations with music stars, the first has especially marked him, which was with FKA Twigs. “He marked a before and after in the quality of my collaborations”. Today we chat with him on the occasion of his new project with the glasses firm Etnia Barcelona, a limited edition capsule that follows his usual style, so refreshing.
What has been the most motivating part of participating in it? “The creative freedom throughout the process and being able to gather my friends in Rome to celebrate my years in the city. It is a farewell letter because next year I am moving to Lisbon”, he explains.
It is common for Etnia Barcelona to drink from the world of art (what they describe as 'Anartist attitude'). And it's not surprising because of their affinity, that they have chosen the enfant terrible of 21st century Spanish painting to participate in the design of a collection full of details, with the vocation of a collector's jewel.
Is about a single sun model in three colours, in Mazzuqueli natural acetate and with a Barberini mineral glass lens. The starting point was John Berger's 1970s book and TV series Ways of Seeing, which served to create a goggle that gives you the possibility of having 'peripheral vision', playing with the fantasy of having an extra pair of eyes on the temples of the goggle and thus not lose any detail of what surrounds us.
Villa Farnesina, one of Ignasi's favorite places.
In addition to glasses, Ignasi has created two acetate masks in the shape of eyes for the collection's campaign, which travel around the city of Rome. The campaign, also directed by him, was shot in the Italian city, where Ignasi has spent long periods soaking up his beauty. “I have lived between Rome and Madrid for three years. I came looking for beauty and inspiration and I clearly found it." he tells us he.
The Italian Forum.
“I think the most obvious and direct inspiration I have found in the city has been food, but above all trompe l'oeil. The concept attracted me before but since I got here it is more and more recurrent in my work. Rome is a city full of trompe l'oeil hidden or in plain sight (for example the dome of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola or Borromini's corridor in the Palazzo Spada). The Italians they developed an ability to deceive the eye that for a figurative painter like me is very attractive”.
Trattoria Settimio, in Via del Pellegrino.
Photography has been done by Paolo Zerbini, and is full of humor but also romanticism. The people closest to Ignasi complete the snapshots, thus celebrating the memories of him in the city. Among them, Stefania Miscetti, architect, gallery owner, friend and also his landlady. "She gave me a roof over my head when I moved to Rome, which allowed me to live and work in her art gallery in Trastevere, that I call my home today.
The architect, gallery owner and friend of the artist Stefania Miscetti and her cat Ruby, wearing glasses by Ignasi Monreal x Etnia Barcelona.
AN ADOPTED ROMAN
The Catalan defines Rome as follows: “Eternal and cinematographic, in it you find scenes worthy of a movie in small daily interactions”. We ask ourselves, what qualities do you have to have to be a true Roman? "Practically the same as to be a true Sevillian, unfortunately I am missing a few", Ignasi jokes.
Villa Doria Pamphili.
His favorite museums there are many, but given the choice, he stays with the Galleria Doria Pamphilij, the Centrale Montemartini and the Hendrik Christian Andersen Museum.
Before the pandemic he was a great traveler, now he assures that he only moves out of necessity. “I like Mediterranean destinations because they make me feel at home, the Balearic Islands and the Costa Brava they are still my favourites. For a more exotic destination my favorite is Japan, I did a couple of road trips from the south to the center of the country with the Nippon Rally, a classic car race that is hard to forget, it was very epic.”
For when all this happens, He has in mind to visit Los Angeles. “I have never been and I have the feeling that I will like it a lot and vice versa”.
Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.
We asked Ignasi, finally, that he reveals to us his most special route in Rome, with ten essential stops, and this is his list, aim!
1.Chiesa di San Carlo Alle Quattro fontane, "one of Borromini's architectural gems".
2. Centrale Montemartini, "a rehabilitated power plant as part of the capitoline museums".
3.Pyramid Cestia, "It's like a sci-fi set: a huge white pyramid on a roundabout, it looks almost alien but it's from 12 B.C."
Palazzo Zuccari and the particular masks created by Ignasi.
4.Restaurant La Matriciana from 1870, "the historic restaurant of the Opera House in Rome; it's my favorite but maybe because they pamper me more".
5.Villa Doria Pamphili, "Rome's Central Park but prettier and much more magical."
6.Scenographic Laboratory of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, "an imposing building dominating the Circo Massimo, where all the sets of the Opera are created by hand".
The scenography laboratory of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.
7.Palazzo Zuccari, "one of the great examples of Roman grotesque architecture".
8.Villa Farnesina, "a perfect example of Roman trompe l'oeil, this villa is completely painted by Raphael's studio".
9.Foro Italico, "along with EUR, it is one of the most theatrical examples of the architecture of Mussolini's fascist dictatorship."
10.Ristorante Settimio al Pellegrino, "true mamma's kitchen".
La Matriciana restaurant from 1870.