Hugo Arias's unique style energizes your mind, his movement between text and image creating a bottomless depth for the imagination to dwell in. Last week, I met with Hugo at his home studio to find out more about his captivating pieces.

What first inspired you to pick up a pencil and start drawing?

it would be great if i had a nice story and dramatic soundtrack to answer you with, but it just seems like the pencil was always in my hand. from learning my ABCs by drawing in the dirt back in Nicaragua, to learning about the birds and the bees from an old anatomy book and my Dad's sketches, drawing has always been a part of my life.

How did it develop from there?

at some point my Aunt bought me my first comic book. it was an Uncanny X-Men issue. back when Jim Lee was doing X-Men; i was hooked. i think my earlier drawings were cars and animals much like any other kid, but suddenly everything became capes and tights. throw in the cartoons of the 90s, and here we are.

At what point, or what made you realize that you wanted to make a living with art?

there’s been very little thinking thus far in the game. its just what i did, what i do. its all i could ever see myself doing. i was good at math, and writing, and had pretty good science skills.... but when it came down to it all i ever did in my spare time was draw anyways... so.... i just threw all my eggs in the basket.

Of all the shows you have done over the years, which has been your favorite?

easily my favourite show was a show entitled Hybridized: Dolls and Drolls. this was at Xpace back in '06. it was the first show where my name was on the roster and had fancy name tags by my work. i suppose it was my first "real show".

You were a part of the Disposable Art Show in Toronto in May. How did this come about?

one day i received an email from Joey, turns out he had seen my work at Sleeping Giant and some small drawings i had at 52 McCaul and thought i had what it took to take on a deck. the whole thing was just a great experience, the shape and curves of the deck were a bit of a challenge but i feel it worked out pretty alright, very happy to be a part of it and would definitely do it again.

Which of your pieces is your favourite?

it's difficult to say, i think it tends to vary on my mood or the context of when i'm viewing the piece again. right now one of my faves is a larger mylar piece entitled; "after all, he knew now much of what he was looking for - and where it could be found".

its on my website somewhere, mostly blue. currently in a gallery in Montreal.

What is the concept behind this piece?

like the others in the same series this piece deals with story telling using vague imagery and archetypal symbolism. the concept is to pull the viewer in to the world i have constructed and force them to make sense of it all, making them as much the storyteller as they are viewer.

You paint and write as well. Which outlet is a better platform to express your ideas?

i would say they are rooted in the same way of thinking. when i write it’s usually inspired by a pairing of words or a phrase that either popped into my head or just came up in conversation and stuck out.

it’s the same with art, an image or idea will randomly come up and it will need to be put down on paper, or canvas, or mylar.

they both just happen, its just me thinking out loud.

How do these differing methods affect and relate to one another?

they feed off each other; the writing brings structure and poetic flow to the art, whereas the art allows the writing to be more cryptic and chaotic.

if you ask me, it’s pointless to try and divide oneself; choosing between different parts of yourself only confuses you and leaves voids. sometimes you should just do everything at once and hope for the best.

What projects are you working on that you are the most excited about?

i've got a few things on the go right now, i feel that if i don't have a long to-do list i'm wasting my days. i have a cool group show coming up entitled "Get Your Ass to Mars" with a bunch of great illustrators. i'm working on an odd side-project with a friend regarding ghosts... but what i'm most excited about is the vinyl toy i am working on with some good people. i may have already said too much so i will leave it as is. keep an eye out!

What do you hope people take from your work?

a friend once said that good art leaves people thinking, makes people review everything they saw in their heads after they leave the gallery. i suppose this is what i want. i want people to see things differently, to make new connections and find stories within themselves they didn't know were there before.

x x x

blamethesky.com