PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF
We are Hotaru Visual Guerrilla, an independent creative studio formed by the artist duo Jone Vizcaino and Ander Ugartemendia. We are based in Donostia-San Sebastian, which is a small coastal city in Basque Country (Spain) surrounded by mountains. Our work focuses on the creation of audiovisual experiences with a strong emphasis on future aesthetics and experimentation.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO ART AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO CREATE?
From an early age, we have felt the need to create and we have always liked to use art as a means of expression in one way or another. Ander has been interested in music production from a very young age and was later introduced to 3D animation. And I (Jone) studied Fine Arts because it was something that fascinated me since I was a child. After some years together, we considered the possibility of carrying out an artistic project together, so years later we decided that it was worth dedicating all the necessary effort to do it professionally. We create art because we enjoy doing it and we believe that artistic creation is an enriching process in many aspects. We love creating audiovisual experiences where we generate emotions that somehow connect with the viewers so they can escape from their daily routine, even for a short period of time. If our art pieces are capable of making someone have a better day, we have achieved our goal.
WHAT MEMORY DO YOU RECALL MOST VIVIDLY FROM CHILDHOOD ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE TALENT?
Ander: During my childhood, my interest was more in music than in graphic arts. I remember my brother’s huge record collection and how I would randomly pick up any record and listen to music for hours. Jone: I remember that when I was a child I loved to collect leaves and flowers from the field, put them to dry on old newspapers, and then create compositions and collages with them.
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE AND WHO/WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MAJOR INFLUENCES?
Our style is something that is constantly evolving and is hard to describe, but if we had to define it, we would say that it is a hybrid that combines abstract organic forms inspired by nature with a futuristic aesthetic. Regarding our influences, on one hand, we live in an area with a very strong connection to nature, which is a huge source of inspiration for us. On the other hand, we grew up in the 90s and 00s, and at that time there was an explosion of futuristic aesthetics in music, art, and film. Our biggest influences at the time were Chris Cunningham’s music videos and the music of Aphex Twin and The Prodigy. Without a doubt, these artists marked the beginning of our interest in the audiovisual world and defined our tastes. If we have to mention some contemporary creators, artists such as Aujik, Tobias Gremmler, and Marina Núñez have been a great source of inspiration for us during the last years.
WHAT IS PART OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS THAT YOU WOULD RATHER AVOID, AND PART THAT YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGHT OF?
We would avoid rendering time, especially those renders that are not long enough to start working on something else in the meantime and all we can do is wait. We don’t get tired of the first steps of the project where we experiment and generate new ideas and where everything is new and exciting.
HOW DOES COMMERCIAL PRESSURE AND THE BUSINESS OF ART EFFECT, SHAPE, OR GUIDE YOUR CREATIVE DECISIONS?
We try to keep a good balance between commercial and artistic work, but it is always important for us to feel comfortable with the final result of the project. We always try to have some projects where we have complete freedom to do what we want without being influenced by external factors.
YOUR FAVORITE BOOK, SONG, FILM.
ANDER: Wolf of the steppes by Hermann Hesse Breathe by The Prodigy Fight Club by David Fincher JONE: Blindness by Jose Saramago The New Selecta by Rognvald Lost Highway by David Lynch
SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR FUTURE SELF
Keep playing, learning, experimenting, and having fun.
Images with courtesy of Hotaru Visual Guerrilla
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