J.S. : Such a new art form still doesn't have big classic masters and for that reason many of my favorite artists are young guys with whom I have enjoyed spending time and chatting with. In other fields, like music, you can follow a great rock star, but you will just enjoy their work. The artists of CG frequent forums, respond to questions and doubts and they even toss a glance to your work and give you advice on how to improve it. I don't have idols in the 3D world, but many good friends that I have learned loads of tricks from. And every time I incorporate into a new team I get to know a handful of big artists and among them I feel small.

IA: Do you think your work is influenced by traditional artists? If so will you names a few of them?

J.S. : A very important aspect in my work is color, and I guess that it has been strongly influenced by the post- impressionist and fauvist painters, but I also give a lot of importance to the shape, and that influence comes from the early abstract painters and the Russian functionalism.

IA: Are there more modern artists on your list? What about other media, such as movies or games?

J.S. : In the world of comics I admire the big classical illustrators, Jean Guiraud, Manara, Corben and Bilal. In the world of cinema I admire Terry Gillian for "Brazil," Kubrik for almost all his movies, Jean Pierre Jeunet for "Delicatessen," Jean J. Annaud for "The Name of the Rose," James Cameron for "Abyss," Lars Von Trier for "Europe" and "Dancer in the Dark" and so many others. I am a great admirer of Joel Peter Witkin´s photography. It is very impressive.And I never play videogames, but if I had to choose an artist in that world I would choose John Romero for those incredible maps of Quake

IA: Can you speak about your personal artistic path? How has your art evolved and where is it going?

J.S. : My artistic path is marked by the dispersion of my efforts in different media. Often I think that maybe I should have just dedicated my life to a single discipline and that way I would have improved it further, but finally I always end up satisfied with having played several disciplines and knowing several things, although none in an exceptional way. I believe that I will continue doing the same thing in the future, but I am almost sure I will always have some relationship with art and with technology.

IA: What's your opinion on modern architecture? What do you like and dislike about it?

J.S. : I like modern architecture and to use it and maybe to appreciate it in the real world, but I prefer to render classic architecture because it´s more interesting to me. I also found the representation of modern buildings with dirt and damages incompatible, while they look pretty on an old building. And those damages are in fact what I like in the models that I create.

IA: What does digital art bring or not bring to your personal relationship with art?

J.S. : I don't separate media so sharply, for me the digital art drinks from the same sources and needs the same kind of talents to be done as the traditional arts. It just uses different tool s and it requires more complex techniques.

IA: What's your own definition of art?

J.S. : It is just a feeling, like pain or love that an artist needs to take it out using the tools that he knows. Some artists dance, others sing and some paint.

IA: Would you like to add anything else?

J.S. : I would just like to say thanks to IT´S ART for giving me the opportunity to share my humble ideas and opinions with their members through this interview. From Granada, Spain, a strong hug to all CGers around the world!



Links

Juan Siquier's Gallery on CG Gallery : cggallery.itsartmag.com/gallery/Siquier/

Juan Siquier's Website : www.juansiquier.com

Interview Published in IT'S ART Vol #01-2008 : www.itsartmag.com/ItsartEN.html

See Also Interview with :

Neil Blevins / Philip Straub / Pascal Blanché / Raphaël Lacoste / Nick Harris / Bobby Chiu