L.A. Nights

About Guachinarte

A tribute to Barragán Guachinarte, with his impeccable eye for architecture, succeeds in reimagining classic structures through his Barragan works; He brings the well-known architecture to life in an exciting new way. The interplay of… Read more

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A tribute to Barragán

Guachinarte, with his impeccable eye for architecture, succeeds in reimagining classic structures through his Barragan works; He brings the well-known architecture to life in an exciting new way. The interplay of texture and light, characteristic of Mexican architect Luis Barragán's houses, is unmistakable in Guachinarte’s compositions. The landscape’s scenic atmosphere is perfectly captured, underscoring the sculptural elements of the architecture.  With every detail, the artist embodies the iconic architect’s philosophy, blending clean lines and colorful surfaces with the unrelenting presence of nature (which only heightens the effect of the man-made). Guachinarte’s approach communicates an aesthetic born in 1940s Mexico – one which maintains popularity today.
Luis Barragán was an internationally renowned architect who received the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1980. He designed several buildings and public sculptures, whose impact extended far beyond Mexico's borders and contributed to his fame. He infused the austerity of geometric forms with unprecedented use of color, thus defining his distinctive style. He avoided conventional ornamentation, opting for a cohesive balance of rough surfaces and mood lighting. His work continues to inspire architects and artists around the world.  


Mid-century modern architecture

California modernism embodied an unmatched optimism that was full of hope for the future. It was an era of groundbreaking ideas and new forms. Guachinarte returns to the modern playing field by arranging iconic mid-century architecture with irresistible atmospheres. In his work, nature and architecture melt with one another and the boundaries between inner and outer dissolve. The California sun pours through floor-length windows. Swimming pools are framed by agave cacti. Lounge chairs await their first guests in the soft light of the morning sun. The artist’s work incarnates the California dream and the urban summer magic that hallmarks Palm Springs. The work simultaneously evokes memories of the glamorous party culture and pool scenes made familiar to viewers through the work of Slim Aarons.


These innovative and finely detailed architectural-natural scenes are created by Guachinarte by with cutting edge technologies. The work requires a meticulous and laborious process that often involves in-depth research on location and housing floorplans, drafting both analog and digital sketches, and creating interior and garden design concepts. After completing these steps, he considers the sky and the surroundings and experiments with different lighting compositions. His greatest challenge is finding the harmonious balance between these elements that will ultimately emanate what it means to live and be in California.

One of Guachinarte’s biggest inspirations is the legendary architectural photographer, Julius Shulman. No one captured the California lifestyle of the 60s and 70s like Shulman. He worked with all the greatest and most celebrated architects that developed the signature style we now associate with Palm Springs. The architects chose Shulman to photograph their work, because his photos captured the spirit of the homes they constructed. His photos portrayed not only the structures, but the ideals that they were built upon. Together, they created a new way of living for a new society.

Mid-century modern architecture owes much of its innovations to the Bauhaus, which was an art school that developed a style in the early 20th century that would change architecture and design forever. The most basic tenet of the Bauhaus design concept is that form follows function. Like the Bauhaus, mid-century modern architecture is characterized by linear forms. However, the Californian architecture distinguishes itself by combining linear with organic forms. This unique style remains among the architectural highlights of California today.  

NFT in a Box

Mericasa
The process of digital rendering is already an impressive counterpart to photography, but the partial setting in motion of image elements lends the work an additional dimension. The photographic becomes the filmic, though an interesting tension between movement and static form remains. Nothing embodies this tension between fixed and moving matter better than the medium of water: the sunlight is refracted in the stylish pool of a modern oceanside villa to create marbled wavelike lines of light in the water that contrast with a well-proportioned still-life showing three ceramic vases arranged in front of a uniformly beautiful wall painted in a light earth colour. Duration and moment, fluidity and form enter into a powerful symbiosis.      

Breezy
Two palms sway in the wind on the dividing line between ocean and swimming pool, thus adding to the impression of the already tense atmosphere between nature and culture. The extremely smooth surface of the water in the pool becomes a mirror, although delicate waves tell of a gentle motion that in turn distorts the mirror image. There are stronger waves on the open ocean in the background, which takes up the full width of the middle part of the image. Above this, a soft and red evening mood lies over the horizon, in front of which the palms, tossed back and forth by fresh gusts of wind, sway to the rhythm of an overarching infinity. Here, too, movement and static moment engage in a playfully contrasting duet.   

VITA

Guachinarte was born in 1981 in Biel, in the Swiss canton of Bern. He studied at the Multimedia Academy in Bern, where he also taught as a lecturer for several years. Throughout his career, Guachinarte has worked in the fields of architecture, design, media and others, gaining valuable experience that now contributes to his artwork and architectural endeavors.

INTERVIEW

Picasso once said, "You don't make art, you find it." Where do you find your art?
Art can be found in the most incredible places; In fact, it’s constantly surrounding us. Nevertheless, in every instance, art is a combination of experiences, observations, sounds, and emotions.


From concept to creation: How do you approach your work?
First, an idea will emerge in my mind. Most often, I have a clear vision of the end product. Depending on the degree of complexity, I prepare sketches to determine whether the idea will function in reality. If a sketch confirms this, it is only a matter of execution.

What’s your favorite book?
The majority of my books relate to architecture, photography, art, and design. Barragan - The Complete Works is among those I pick up again and again. There is something distinctly different about viewing these works of art in print. The beauty is both undeniable and incredibly satisfying.

Which artist would you like to have coffee with and what would you talk about?
I would have liked to meet Julius Shulman. He seems to have been a very fine fellow. I would have talked to him about everything under the sun. And, of course, a little bit about photography.

How did you develop an interest in art?
Even as a child I enjoyed creating beautiful things. So, my passion for producing images is deep-seated. My journey to architectural visualization, however, happened rather slowly and serendipitously. Although it may have occurred differently than I remember.


Who in your life influences you the most?
All people influence me, some more than others.


If you had a time machine, where would you go?
Somewhere in California during the 1960s.


What is your greatest passion, aside from art?
Family, drawing, skateboarding, music.


What are you working on at the moment?
Currently, I am working on various commissions for clients. These are partly architectural competitions and partly construction projects. In addition, I am working on additional motifs for the Mid-Century Modern Architecture series. And many more projects are waiting to be executed.