10 Questions with Darío Berterreche

Darío Berterreche studied drawing and painting with Sole Rebaudi, Pablo Garat, Nardo Moyano, and Jorge Melo. When he met the Catalan artist César Pascual Diez, his view changed, and he focused on the concept of the work. He attended a workshop on the analysis of works of art with Andrés Waissman and Carlos Arnaiz.

He participated in several solo exhibitions, among which stand out Solo Show (2022, La Nef - Bodegas Caro Art Gallery / Mendoza, Argentina); Solo Show (2018, Mov Art / Bodega La Rural / Mendoza); Relatos Construidos (2018, Salas Federales, Buenos Aires, Argentina); Universos Ocultos (2017 Miramar and Mar Del Plata ) and Pilares Gallery (2017, Colombia 2017), among others.

He has been part of group exhibitions in different institutions such as Salas Federales, Mutual Círculo Italiano, ARDI, La Noche de las Artes in Boulevard Saenz Peña in Tigre, Sala de Arte Banco Credicoop, Teatro Auditorium de Mar del Plata, Honorable Cámara De Senadores de la Provincia de la Plata.

www.darioberterreche.me | @darioberterreche

ARTIST STATEMENT

He sees his practice as an act of faith, of absolute surrender, towards an infinite becoming. Starting from the unexpected and from the movement that every improvisation proposes, the works are generated, giving rise to whatever chance determines. Much of his inspiration comes from the natural environment that surrounds him, manifesting itself in the creative process through various organic materialities. In the dynamics of his search, I follow the plastic gesture as a gateway to endless possibilities of textures, where error is not presented as a threat but as a free path to different atmospheres. These try to capture sensations such as the murmur of the sea, the hidden and revealed surface, the perfume of the seaweed, the mist, the tranquility of the horizon in the landscape, the forest climbing the dunes, the fragility of the dry branches, as representations of nature, of its presence of life as well as its absence.

SIN TÍTULO, Acrylic on canvas, 180 x 150 cm, 2022 © Darío Berterreche

INTERVIEW

Let's start from the basics. How did you start getting interested in art? And what keeps you motivated?

All my life, since I was a child, I have had an interest and passion for art. Art exists because life is not enough.

What do you wish you knew about contemporary art before you got started?

I study and research contemporary art a lot. I would like to know everything, but sometimes I doubt, and I feel that perhaps all that knowledge does not benefit my work.

You already have a long career and have participated in several solo and group exhibitions. What is the biggest lesson you have learned so far from your artistic career?

It is an incessant search, so one never finishes learning. It is a path full of uncertainties, errors, successes, frustrations, and satisfactions, which is worth going through to grow as an artist.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

My work is based on improvisation; I can have a minimal idea, but then I work rhythmically and let myself be carried away by intuition in a shamanic way. I am interested in the texture, the matter. Sometimes, they are serene, and sometimes they have a lot of rhythm. It has to do with my character, with my days, with what I need to express.

Tell us more about your abstract painting. What does it represent for you? Do you have any specific theme you want to focus on?

I am inspired by nature, by the landscape of my environment, and by my habitat. I have the joy of living in a wonderful place, and I really enjoy the forest and the sea throughout the year; it really is a great source of inspiration.

Do you have a role model that you've drawn inspiration from when creating your art?

I am inspired by many contemporary artists, such as Miquel Barceló, Anselm Kiefer, Joan Mitchell, Brice Marden, Joe Bradley, Antonio Saura, and others, but I also feel very identified, in the creative process, with jazz musicians and writers who have been inspired by this genre, such as the Beat Generation and Cortazar among others.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Is there anything exciting you can tell us about?

I am working on two series; I alternate between the work that I call "Blanca", it is a body of work with many layers, a lot of texture, whites, and grays, subtly revealing some color and also in another totally contrasting series, with more movement and more vibrant colours. I am currently exhibiting my work in Madrid in a collective exhibition named SENSE/SENSATION, curated by María Lightowler and organized by Skiacope 8.

How do you promote your work? And what advice would you give to an emerging artist in this regard?

I promote my work on the networks through art dealers and galleries.

What do you wish to accomplish this year, both in terms of career goals and personal life?

My intention is to continue working passionately for authentic and true work, that everything that arises is a consequence of effort, work, and dedication.

Finally, where do you see yourself and your work five years from now?

"I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO EXCEPT EVERYWHERE" - On the road, Jack Kerouac

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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