La narración escondida / The hidden narration (Entrevista a Susana Solano)

A.- It's a similar process. The difference is that architecture has to be inhabited by people, and sculpture has to be inhabited by life.

Q.- You once asserted that contemporary art is bureaucratic.

A.- Yes, I did, once, talking to Ferrán García Sevilla, we said art had become very bureaucratic. I was telling him that there was no longer room for all that bohemian artist malarkey. Nowadays, artists need computers, files, photographic files... A whole organised structure. On top of all that, there are insurances for the works, the packaging, the journeys pieces carry out to and from different places, the technical sheets, the images... It's not just the fact that art in galleries or museums has become bureaucratic, it's the fact that the artists themselves have become bureaucratic. Nonetheless, we usually forget all that when we enter our studios. Otherwise we would not be able to work. Let's say that we become bohemian when we are in our studios.

Q.- In Madrid people are currently very concerned about the scarce relevance of Spanish art abroad. What do you think about this?

A.- I don't think the problem is just that Spanish art is not recognised abroad. I don't think Spain receives what is produced in other countries either. The general crisis situation has affected the art world. Contemporary art has to pull its way with a very tight budget; there is a lack of motivation.

Q.- What can you say about the role the Reina Sofía Museum is carrying out in this sense?

A.- I would rather not comment.

Q.- So, let's go back to sculpture. What would you say to a young sculptor?

A.- Follow your vocation, be persevering, believe in yourself and work very hard.

Q.- Do you think young artists should travel a lot?

A.- No, the journey is within. It's not a case of getting on a plane to New York or Berlin. Self-awareness is in the small things. It can be found in a good movie, for example. It is also a question of energies. Some days one feels as if one's energy has been "sucked out." You go out, have an argument with someone or see something horrible. Or you go to a boring dinner. That takes away your energy. Yet, if one chooses, or one can choose -sometimes it is impossible-, and picks the right activity, one feels charged up with energy, an energy which you can then transfer to your work. It's like feeling good, feeling alive, and feeling like you can contribute something. I think each person has to construct his or her own life.

Q.- Do you think your work is politically committed?

A.- Some commitments fluctuate and others remain. Those that remain have been with you since you were very young. I am not going to go into my commitments, but I suppose that through this interview you can detect some of them. In any case, there are some invariable interests, things that I am always going to stand up for.

Q.- What do you think about the tripartite Catalan government?

A.- We should give them some time. They are still building, just like the artists... They are young artists.