We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pedro Real. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pedro below.
Pedro, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mission is to use art as a means to communicate ideas .My newest show explores the relationship between street art and its fight against oppression. Through the depiction of an often marginalized form of artistic expression as a beacon of democracy, my goal is to spark conversations surrounding people’s freedom and their use of art as a tool to reach their goals.I believe that art is one of the biggest social catalysts, giving voice to the silenced and oppressed. It is important to me that my artworks reflect, inspire other artists and aid in social progress.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
To keep it simple, I am Pedro Real, an artist. I’ve been described as a “multi-artist”, but I believe I am a painter— a modern expressionist from Brazil. My work is my passion, my mission, my lust, my reflection on my experience and on the experiences of those around me. A little while ago, I shut myself off from the world in a studio in an abandoned factory space and painted giant, complex, scaled canvases depicting raw, emotional collisions between police and students during the protests in May 1968 in Paris. I’d been reading about these protests and was drawn to shine a light on these events, as they are far too related to current events to be overlooked. It has been a privilege and an honor to be able to share and educate people on the events I painted and the values they reflect to me, values like bravery, kindness, empathy and standing up for what is right. I can bring people to reflect upon the nature of a lot of the values they don’t often think about. My approach to painting these protesters and their links to street art and culture has an almost mythological nature. Every culture has used Mythology to communicate its values. I coined the term “Modern Mythology” for this show. To me, my graffiti protestors are heroes no different from Heracles, Odysseus or any other. Their fight is righteous and important, and allowing the masses to express artistically will bring forth advancement.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Art represents freedom—a medium through which I can express myself authentically. Yet, its true power lies in its ability to inspire. I believe that art cannot exist in a vacuum, it thrives through interaction; witnessing the diverse reactions of viewers to my work never fails to fascinate me. Each response, whether positive or critical, is unique and valuable. However, what truly touches me are the moments when someone shares that my art has inspired them to create something of their own. It’s a humbling experience, especially when their creations are entirely different from mine, amplifying the joy and fulfillment I find in my craft. I think the themes in my work are timeless and speak to most people ( not all the reactions to my choice of subject matter are particularly positive, but they are all intense ; I am proud to say I don’t spark mild sensations, ever)
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I think non-creatives might not realize how artists and creatives inform the dimensions of their work through perspective. Artists are, in general, empathetic people because their trade requires them to deal with people’s experiences. One pillar of art is experience, and the manner in which one portrays, shares and explores these experiences is part of what defines the quality of their art. I think doing all of this reflecting on the subjective experiences and perspectives of others allows artists to develop their empathy in an unique way. Whether you are in sales, management or business, empathy is very important when dealing with people. Allow yourself to connect with experiences and art the way a creative does ; it helps with your empathy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pedroreal.art
- Instagram: @artistpedroreal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@real52art
Image Credits
Personal Picture by Yuri Félix Das Neves.
Finalized canvas pictures by Pedro Mamoré.