Joya: AiR / Eva Grande / ESP

“The Joya: AiR experience has been a very enriching experience. JOYA is very respectful of the environment, the views are extraordinary and the sunsets take your breath away. When needing to emerge myself in the creative process of my project and my investigation into ceramics and materials suitable for visually impaired people the silence was very helpful. The best part are the hosts Donna and Simon which provided thoughtful conversations and exquisite food. I have created some wonderful memories while staying at Joya AIR.

I've dedicated more than 25 years of my life to my passion: art in many of its forms and colors. I've explored and experimented with different disciplines. Although my education and study were philosophy and psychology, I've always kept a link to the art world by also studying history of art, art drawing, painting and photography mainly in Madrid, but also in Paris. Recently I've graduated from the ceramic school of Madrid and the last two years I've focused on ceramic sculptures. During these years I've exhibited my work mainly in Spain, but also in Denmark, The Netherlands, USA, etc.

For me relief, colours and materials have been my main curiosity and interest during the making of my art works. For my work I've used and reused earth, glas, minerals, tree bark, straws, cork, ropes, threads, marbles etc on different surfaces like metal, wood, canvas etc. This has led me to dedicate a lot of time and reflection to search for colours and their shades, materials and their reliefs they are essential elements in my work.

The exclusion of women in art is a topic that is very important to me and to which I have dedicated several exhibitions. I consider women as the central and fundamental axis of life.

I have taken into account climate change, my love for nature, animals, cinema ... and I have a particular sensitivity for minority groups. For a year I researched materials accessible to the touch to bring abstract art closer to blind and visually impaired people. In 1995 I held an exhibition at the Museo Tiflologico de Madrid - O.N.C.E (national organization for the blind in Spain). From that moment on there is always a work present in my exhibitions that can be touched, as a tribute to this group.

The impact of covid19 makes me think and dedicate part of this year to working on this issue.

At this moment, I working on my new web page”.

Eva Grande

Simon Beckmann2 November 2020