JOIN THE EARLY ACCESS PROGRAM HERE

MANUEL BUENO

ATE BEHIND THE NIGHT AND AN INNER WORLD FULL OF INSPIRATION, CARABINERS, AND METALLIC FLOWERS

WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND TO EMERGING AUTHORS?

The important thing is to bring your ideas to life in the best way possible and, if you feel motivated, share them with the world. Good work deserves to be seen.

And if you don't feel confident in some technical aspect, seek help, learn.



MANUEL BUENO IS A CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND DIGITAL ARTIST SPECIALIZING IN 3D ANIMATION. BORN IN EXTREMADURA, HE MOVED TO MADRID TO STUDY DESIGN, AND TO BARCELONA AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER, WHERE HE WOULD RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT BOOST BOTH CREATIVELY AND PROFESSIONALLY. TODAY, BACK IN MADRID, HE HAS WORKED ON PROJECTS FOR MAJOR FASHION INDUSTRY BRANDS SUCH AS VALENTINO OR KENZO, EXHIBITED AT FESTIVALS LIKE MMMAD, AND CREATED INSTALLATIONS...

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A STRATEGIC PLANNING BEHIND YOUR PROFESSIONAL DECISIONS, BUT YOU ALSO HAD THE LUCK TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES AND PEOPLE THAT ALIGNED WITH YOUR INTERESTS. WAS IT SO?


More or less. When I returned to Madrid from Barcelona, I had to manage my career strategically, especially because I had gained some experience there and wanted to leverage it. Although initially, I had to accept certain jobs to make myself known, I was lucky to be able to choose and work with artists and designers I admired.

I'd say it was 30% strategic planning and 70% opportunities and luck along the way.




ALTHOUGH YOU WENT THROUGH MOMENTS OF FRUSTRATION IN THE EARLY YEARS OF YOUR CREATIVE CAREER, YOU STARTED RECEIVING RECOGNITION AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM BIGGER ARTISTS, WHICH PROPELLED YOU TO FULLY DEDICATE YOURSELF TO FREELANCING. HOW WAS THIS PROCESS?

It was a process of personal and professional growth, learning to trust myself and the opportunities that arose. Though there were moments of doubt and frustration, I realized that things happen at the right time and that it was necessary to be prepared for when they arrived.


IT'S INSPIRING TO SEE HOW YOU PERSEVERED AND ESTABLISHED YOURSELF AS A FREELANCER, WORKING ON PROJECTS YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WORKING INDEPENDENTLY? WHAT CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED ON THIS PATH?

Working as a freelancer has its own challenges and benefits. One of the biggest challenges is financial uncertainty, as you don't have a fixed salary and need to ensure enough projects to cover your expenses.

Also, it's necessary to manage your time and set clear boundaries between work and personal life because when you work for yourself, it's easy to fall into the trap of working without rest.

On the other hand, freelancing also offers great freedom and flexibility. You can choose the projects you want to work on and have more control over your career. Additionally, you have the opportunity to work on diverse projects and collaborate with different people, allowing you to gain experience and expand your professional network.

Another benefit is that you can develop your own style and approach in your work. You're not limited by a company's restrictions and can explore and experiment with your creativity.



IT'S INTERESTING HOW PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES CAN INFLUENCE OUR CREATIVITY AND THE TYPE OF WORK WE CREATE. IT SEEMS THAT IN YOUR CASE, YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE AND PAST EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED YOUR CREATIVE WORK. COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES HAVE MOLDED YOUR CREATIVE WORK?


Undoubtedly, my emotions and experiences have been a constant source of inspiration for my creative work. Every moment, whether difficult or joyful, has left a mark on my worldview. During tough times, art has served as a means of expression and catharsis, a way to channel my emotions and find comfort.

Moreover, when I'm experiencing intense emotional states, I feel that my perception of the world expands and becomes deeper. This has led me to explore more complex themes in my work and try to convey them through my creations. My past experiences have influenced the choice of those themes, as I seek to connect with the audience through personal and authentic narratives.

At a time when I wasn't emotionally well, my inspiration was closely related to partying: I went out to escape, and I reflected that in my work.

Much of the iconography I used in things that I liked had to do with party contexts and always with a fun component.

During that time, I also made many animations of flowers, carabiners... and they were truly pictographic things I had in my head, saw in different contexts, and identified with. I've always identified with flowers, things related to the death of family members... and I found myself making many portraits of flowers where, unconsciously, I was painting myself. An example is the metallic flowers with spikes inside...

At the moment, you don't realize why you do it, but you have that creative impulse, and the things inspiring you are related to how you feel inside.

My emotions and experiences have been a driving force behind my creative work. They've allowed me to connect with my own humanity and explore the deepest aspects of my being.

I believe that authenticity and sincerity in art are fundamental, and finding ways to express myself meaningfully is something I always seek in my work. I'm naturally a tough guy, but I can work on projects with completely different styles, and that's also necessary.


IT'S TRUE THAT WHEN YOU WORK FOR OTHERS, ESPECIALLY FOR COMPANIES, SOMETIMES YOU FEEL YOU CAN'T FULLY EXPRESS YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS. BUT WHEN YOU WORK AS AN ARTIST, YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR ART AND FEELINGS IN A MORE AUTHENTIC WAY. COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF RECOGNITION AND HOW YOU'VE DEALT WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS IN YOUR CREATIVE CAREER?

Recognition in my career has been a fluctuating process, full of ups and downs. As I mentioned before, there have been times when I lacked projects and felt desperate, but I've also experienced stages of success in my work.

Human recognition is important for any artist, especially when it comes from people in the same creative field. Knowing that your colleagues value your work can provide a sense of validation and confidence in what you're creating.

It's also gratifying to receive institutional recognition, such as the support of artistic institutions or commercial success. This type of recognition can have a huge impact on how you perceive your own work and how you feel as an artist.

However, I realized that external recognition shouldn't be the sole measure of success in my creative career. I learned to value the creative process itself and enjoy the process of generating ideas and developing projects. I really enjoy writing and reading, I love doing presentations, and I even enjoy it.

Sometimes, moments of inspiration and ideas that I think will be great give me an adrenaline rush. I believe that tastes and skills are educated.

Regarding the ups and downs in my career, I've learned to accept them as part of the creative journey. I understand that in the creative industry, there are moments of abundance and scarcity of projects. Instead of getting discouraged during times of scarcity, I try to use that time to reflect, explore new ideas, and develop additional skills. I've also learned not to constantly compare myself to other artists on social media, as that generates self-criticism and can undermine my creative confidence.

I strive to find a balance between valuing external recognition and enjoying the creative process itself.

At the end of the day, what's most important to me is to create authentically and find personal satisfaction in my work.


Interview with Manuel Bueno, @manuelbueno.exr by Alejandro Gata