Idea, production and artistic direction: Alexandra Nicod
Pic.: Katharina Giesler for missnicod.com
El Hortelano_painter_Valencia_1954
I met famous Spanish painter El Hortelano before I knew that it was him. It was thanks to photographer Ouka Leele who introduces me to him in the Heridadegato fashion show, the brand created by her daughter, María Rosenfeldt, and Jacobo Salvador. Later we were in the same car on our way back to Madrid Center; at the wheel, Patricia Allende, co-pilot Arabella Siles, both special and beloved women. The conversation was lively and laughter constant. We met again on several occasions until the day of the interview, first in his house next to El Retiro, then in his studio and finally according to him in the best “horchatería” of Madrid …
It was my wish to do a special interview with him … going to the essence, to the wisdom, to the beauty. And he was immediately enthusiastic and nicknamed this kind of interview as “Haiku Interview”.
El Hortelano, a simple, humble, pleasant, wise and very beautiful being, offers us his essence in this “Haiku Interview” …
The origin … Once upon a time there was an ovule and a sperm in love …
Childhood… I live in my childhood right now …
Parents… Thanks to them I am an artist. Once upon a time there was an ovule and a sperm in love. Infinite gratitude and love …
Nature… EVERYTHING …
The animals… My brothers on the planet Earth. My life and my inspiration…
The beginnings… A child painting and contemplating the Universe…
Travel… By land, sea and air. I am a mental and physical traveler. I live in an ear of wheat moved by the wind…
Ouka Leele… Dearest friend, great artist and my favorite star in the sky. Companion of so many adventures. We keep seeing each other very often …
La movida madrileña… The Movement of Life…
Love… Love to everything created…
Sex… Uuuuuuufffffff!!!!!!!!
Passion… for the extraterrestrials…
The essence… of turpentine…
Wisdom… Where do we come from? Who are we? Where do we go?
God… I believe in God. My painting is a grateful tribute to God …
The rock… The wonders of a grain of sugar…
The sky… My favorite book…
The sublime… A drop of water…
The stars… that caress my heart…
The freedom… to choose…
The power… to improve the world…
The inspiration… Observe
Art… Vitamins for the Soul. Great Art heals and changes your life. We like Art, because it is the magical place where we come from when we are born and to which we return when we die. There is a lot of life after death…
The artist… The medium between the divine and the human…
The woman… A miracle…
The man… Another miracle…
Poetry… All the work of my dear mother, the poetess and rhapsode Cándida Ortiz Ortiz…
Africa… Mother Africa…
Finland… My life and my soul happy in its forests…
Ants… Points and commas of divine writing…
Go barefoot… My walks barefoot through the park of El Retiro. Connection with the earth…
Fly… painting in my studio…
Dreams… Reality…
Human… My last series of paintings based on the human handprint...
El Hortelano… Yes?
Interview: Alexandra Nicod