Interview: Francisco Macias O, Photographer
flâneur
noun: flä-'nər / city saunterer
Opening reception at The Cloud Room on 11/14 @ 6:30pm—collection on display through 12/9.
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CR: We are so happy to have you as a member at the Cloud Room. Could you tell us a little bit about your work and your unique perspective?
FM: Thank you for having me. You’ve created such an inspiring community and I am so thrilled to be apart of it. I am a photographer and art director. Most of my work have been focused on editorial, fashion, street shots, but I’ve also done commercial creative and art direction for start-ups and corporations. People and portraiture is the focal point of my work. I love experimenting with lighting and surrounding negative space in order to keep the subject in focus as much as possible.
CR: Where did you grow up? How does this influence your work?
FM: I moved to the U.S. when I was 23 but I was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. Mexico is one of the most diverse and vibrant places on Earth, so it shapes and inspires a lot of my work. It’s full of color, joy, flavor and music. Improvisation is everywhere. The people are earnest, hard-working, caring and always ready to flash a smile. Of course it also has a darker side, but the strength of the Mexican people and the perseverance of the community in times of adversity inspires me to capture how people keep going even when things get tough.
My family has also had a huge impact on me any my work. The family, followed closely by the community in the plaza, are the focal points of Mexican life. I was raised in a working class neighborhood. It is loud, busy, and bustling with characters who all love to pose for me when I roam around with my camera. My mother is a seamstress who takes tremendous pride in her work. Her designs are not shy. They are adventurous, full of life and maybe a bit too colorful, but so am I and I am so thankful to her for that.
CR: How did you get started as an artist? Where are your artistic roots?
FM: As a kid I was always playing with a camera and experimenting with lighting to capture my subjects. I love the rush of capturing the spontaneous. That’s why shooting anonymous subjects on the street and exploring angles in a short amount of time excites me so much.
CR: Let’s talk specifically about this show. It will be up from November 14th-December 9th. Can you tell us a bit about this body of work specifically?
FM: Over the last five or six years, cities and the people who inhabit them have become the subject of my curiosity as a photographer. And I’m hoping to expose in a personal way how indirectly and unwittingly, architecture and the urban backdrop affect passersby and vice versa. I think this group of images speaks to what I’ve been doing in the past 5 years. At first I didn’t feel that had a story to tell until I saw images together. But when I started working with Rafael to curate a the show, we both saw that the series captures the energy on the streets and a passion for discovering hidden stories, subjects and angles that we might otherwise miss if we’re not paying close attention.
CR: Do you work in any other mediums besides photography?
FM: Photography is my passion and main medium, but I also do quite of experimentation in post production.
CR: What are your favorite places around Seattle to grab a bite, drink or coffee? We’d love your recommendations.
FM: I could work, eat and drink all day at Cafe Presse. Tacos Chukis for a bite with friends. Homer is my new favorite place for a special night out.
CR: Do you have any favorite museums or galleries where you go to get inspired?
FM: I just got involved with the Henry Art Gallery. I have always been a fan of contemporary art and get excited when I see great artists being shown in town. In general, The Frye is always great, and I’m lucky to have free access to this space. The last exhibition that I was captivated by was by Zanele Muhuli: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail The Dark Lioness at the SAM Museum. This truly was a powerful show about a discomforting, self-defining artist’s journey, and her outcome rethinking the culture of self-representation and self-expression.
I’m also very excited for Museum of museums (MoM) to open in Capitol Hill.
CR: Last, if you have anything you’d like to share about your experience at the Cloud Room and being a part of the community, please share!
FM: I love this place and I love that you all created a place like this in Seattle. I have been really enjoying working here and finding a spot where people of any industry just come to make it through their working day in a cozy and warm spot; it’s just perfect for the rainy city we live in.