PHOTOGRAPHER AND ART DIRECTOR ANDONI BERISTAIN
I was born and raised in a small town in the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. I went away to study design in Barcelona at 18, and that’s where I became more aware of the world and started to feel happy - It’s also at that point that I stumbled upon photography, completely by chance. My passion grew with every passing year, until I started my own studio, with small clients at first which were then joined by bigger brands. Today I’m focused on my artistic practice, centered around telling stories through images. This is what moves me the most. After 14 years away, I returned to the Basque Country last year, and am based in Donostia-San Sebastián.
Tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences Andoni.
The mundane and the everyday, going out, music, movies and shows inspire me a lot. Above all else, my ideas come from everyday moments and objects, and paying attention to the world around me. My Mum was also a crucial source of inspiration for me and my photography. She passed away a few months ago, and I dedicated my series "Pieza Madre" (Mother Piece) to her. It’s been a complete shift for me personally and professionally, a real revolution.
How are the current trends in technology and innovation affecting your work as a creative?
I don’t think they affect me too much, I focus a lot on the stories I want to tell and how to best do it. I was never into ultra-technical photography. It is obvious that technology is having a big impact on society and art, with NFTs for instance.
Everything is constantly evolving, but I let myself go and let the current take me.
We'd love to hear more about your creative process.
I take time to think about the idea and draw a mental image of it. I imagine the objects, light or locations that could help to bring it to life, as well as how it would need to be composed, how each element would look... Then I move on to production: I search, I buy, I tweak and tinker, I collect… and then I photograph and edit. I'm quite impatient so usually it’s a rather quick journey from the beginning of the process to the final result (laughs).
What do you think of the art world and how it works in general?
Everything is changing extremely fast. I don't know how fast is too fast, but certainly at an incredible speed. I do feel like fleeting things are given a lot of importance and value, which I question. It’s the same with recognition. Does everyone deserve it? What are the criteria? Does having many followers make you better, or more credible? It is something we collectively need to think about.
Anything coming up that we should know about?
The most important part of my work right now is my growing focus on the art side of my practice. With my “Pieza Madre” (Mother Piece) series, I started to take still life out in the streets and outdoors, which was and continues to be a complete revolution for me. I’ve come to create something which I find very special and am truly happy with. Plus, I’m now feeling very comfortable in this new field.
What does wellbeing mean to you and anything in particular that you practice?
It is super important, without a doubt. From a very young age, we are all told that health is the most important thing, and it’s true. In 2019 I had cancer. It was not very serious at first, but chemotherapy turned my life upside down and since then I’ve had quite a few health problems. That’s why today I believe that without health and well-being, you are not going anywhere. Nothing works. I have lived it, I am still living it, albeit to a lesser extent. Even now, being on the road to recovery, the one thing I wish for with all my heart is to be back to full health, so that everything else can go smoothly.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Only that we must fight against fatphobia (among many other things)!
