Jean Matos is a Brazilian artist whose inspirations and influences are as beautifully crafted as his detailed illustrations. He jokes about sounding “too poetic,” but his world views are truly that of an artist who finds beauty in the minute details of life and appreciator of history. Gifted at both the narrative as well as finely executed control of color, Matos is an artist I look forward to seeing more of in the future.

Lori Zimmer: You take photographs and you draw, any other talents? Some of your drawings are very fashiony, do you design clothing as well?

Jean Matos: I wish I was a multimedia artist. I like trying different medias, but I focus myself on drawing and painting. Even though I love fashion and photography.

in 2006 I presented a clothing collection with two friends in the Brasilia¥s fashion week (CFW), which helped me learn more about how the fashion business works. Then I participated in two more fashion shows, and that was enough to understand that I wouldn’t dedicate myself entirely to this. It’s a really fast and crazy job.

I like to create things for myself... I'm always making something new to wear or use. Everything I make without any kind of pretention to sell, is much more consistent and pleasurable. Occasionally I design t-shirt graphics for some brands.

Fashion, I mean clothes design itself, is getting less interesting to me, I don't know. I think fashion as a cultural meaning, when put together with something else, like music, photography and art, is more fascinating, and that is what I look for in the fashion world.



LZ: I see a lot of influences in your work- from Schiele to fashion to historical portraiture, what would you say are your most important influences?

JM: I always say that everything I see around me influences me in a way... I¥m a very observant guy. I love to watch people especially when is possible to see their weaknesses. It¥s an honor when people see some Schiele influence in my drawings and paintings, his art is amazing. Indeed Schiele, such as Mucha and Bayros, are some of my favourite modern artists and they influences me the most.

I'm also a big fan of the Renaissance and Byzantine Art. Religious themes have recently appeared in my work somehow, it has delighted me very much.



LZ: Your coloring is impeccable- especially your fleshtones. Did you study painting and illustration, or are you self taught?

JM: Thanks a lot! Colors is something that worries me sometimes because most of what you feel when you see a artwork is caused by them. I feel I'm in a very washed tones moment, which for me feels like resting in peace. (laughs).

I had studied oil painting when I was a kid, I had classes for almost 5 years. When I was 16 I started to study more about figure drawing and the human body. But only when I got to the University of Industrial Design was I able to learn more about colors, compositions and how to deconstruct the human figure.

But, I don't know, I feel that almost everything comes spontaneously from combinations I see around me, like the first morning light coming through the windows of my bedroom painting my walls, Brasilia's sky (city I currently live in Brazil). For real, I'm not trying being poetic! (laughs) One crazy thing I love to do is close my eyes in a bright sunny day and open it really slow to see things in washed and diferent color tones.



LZ: Twins and triplets are a recurring theme in your work, as are kings and queens. What is the fascination?

JM: The obsession started when I was a kid and saw on TV the americans siamese twins Abby & Brittany Hensel. At that time the feeling was more of curiosity and wonder. Later I started to appreciate that as a diferent kind of beauty. What some people call human freaks I started to consider as fantastic beauty. In 2008 I explored it more for an exhibition. What fascinates me about kings and queens are just the ornated costumes.



LZ: Many of your figures have slumped shoulders. Is there a significance with this posture?

JM: Maybe. This is a kind of weak and fragile posture. Everyone is so fragile, even when we look strong and brave. When nobody is seeing us, we let our shoulders slump and think about life, fears, hopes... I don¥t know. Perfect characters are really boring.




LZ: Tell me about your creative process- what are you listening to? Where do you create?

JM: My creative process can start anywhere. I think about everything all the time, in a bad and good way. In the middle of a bunch of good and bad thought comes an image, a scene or a phrase. When an idea comes to mind I start drawing, usually at home alone... listening to tv.

Music is something that inspires my state of spirit and creativity. I get inspired a lot with music. Lately I'm listening to Al Bowlly, Animal Collective, Deerhunter, Ponytail, Magic Wand and some LSTN albums. (laughs)



LZ: What projects do you have coming up?

JM: Talking about personal things, now I¥m creating a collection of T-shirts and flags and thinking about a next exhibition with structures made of paper and plaster.



LZ: If you weren't creating art, what would Jean Matos be doing?

JM: Anything but playing soccer! As long as I’m living. I feel very blessed for being able to create art and having it recognized by people who share this same interest. I'm happy that’s how things are!

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