Talented Mexican artist Jaime Ruíz is the 2015 recipient of the Ministry of Culture’s Young Creators Grant. Using mostly warm, earthy colors and zoomorphic themes, his works simultaneously comment on and break down the many borders that exist in our world: between continents, countries, social classes and beyond.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I usually make coffee & dark toast, then I check some blogs, my emails, write down ideas and try to make a mental drawing of that given day.
What inspires you to create every day?
The past and the future of my work inspire my present, and I find the knowledge of the world through artistic research really inspiring. I like to allow myself to change the way I see the context of any given situation and to recognize how the context is influencing me.
What does your work space look like?
It is a small place in an old building in Mexico City. It has a beautiful natural light and it is filled with plants but I can also hear the soundtrack of the city during the day since it’s located in quite a noisy avenue. Typically, I’ll work on a table, but sometimes in a long chair or on the floor.
Describe the core of your technique or style.
My style is inspired by other artists like Roland Toppor and Raymond Pettibon, while writers like Irmgard Emmelhainz have also had an impact on my work. I mainly draw and usually use pen. In the process of drawing I think about other mediums like sculpture, video and painting.
What are your top 3 studio essentials?
I am interested in decolonization theory, the communality concept of Jaime Luna – who lives in a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico – and Speculative Design.
How do you know or decide when an artwork is finished?
I try to define the limits of the formal aspect before I start. Finding where to begin with an artwork is usually harder for me than finishing it.
Jaime Ruíz
What do you like to do to unwind after a day’s work?
I like to spend time on the internet watching memes or sport videos and try to watch movies every day.
What’s your overall favorite aspect of the creative process?
My favorite aspect is following ideas until they take a narrative form. I have a lot of sketch books with ideas that didn’t develop as initially intended but instead grew into other ideas.
