Benjamin Nazareno - Figurative artist

Artistically focused in exploring his art here in London, fighting through challenges brought on by cultural realities, he is seeking success as one of the first filipinos to look beyond a single minded culture and hopes to one day bring to the philippines a new outlook on the bigger picture.

Interview with Benjamin Nazareno - 12.05.06

Tell me a bit about your background?

Finished my degree at the Philippine Womens University, that was 1998, I took a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts, majoring in advertising. I started working in an advertising agency in Makati , at the same time I’m working as an artist on a freelance basis and doing what I like most, figurative painting.

How is it like studying in the Philippines , have you studied elsewhere?

No, only in the Philippines . Actually in the Philippines , the method when it comes to fine art is more technical, if they give you a cup, you have to copy it as a cup, they don’t tell you to make something out of your imagination, they control it like that sometimes.

So where did you get to explore your style?

When I came out of the academy. If you do nude paintings in the Philippines , a lot of people are going to criticise it, find it controversial and put in the newspaper that your art works are going too far. Culture and religion play a big part.

I don’t blame other artists who come to this country. Ben Cabera came here to express his art and in the 80s he introduced punk in the Philippines. People didn’t get it?

Is their a high demand for your work if you were to tone it down?

Art is not a good source of income in the Philippines , it’s alright if you grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth. But let’s say some people from Tondo, who can’t go the city to show their works, exhibit their paintings for 15 to 20 years, still might never sell it? I mean I’m not saying that no-one will buy it? But the demand on art is not quite on the western park.

What has it been like promoting your work here in the UK ?

When I came here, I started doing commission work, a lot of people had commented saying my work is extraordinary. At home, they would say to stop doing figurative paintings and concentrate on farmers and caribous. My principle is if I do these things, it’s like I’m saying that the Philippines is left behind? It’s always farmers? Why not explore Filipinos outside the country? Filipinos is New York ?

They would say why would you do paintings based on western influence? But Philippines is all about western beauty? Art is about everything, not only inside the Filipino culture.

What is your first memory of art?

When I was 5 years old, I remember scribbling on the wall, my father use to shout and instead of doing homework on a notebook, I was doing this remote transportation, let’s say it’s a car, then when you change the page, it transforms, like a flipbook.

How did you get into art?

My father wanted me to join the Philippine military academy, the whole Nazareno family is from the army, he didn’t join, it was his depression. While in high school, he gave me his application form for the army. Thing is, I went to my friend for a tattoo, and when I went to the medical examination, they refused me, he was really pissed. He told me, being an artist there’s no money, but I proved it to him with my first exhibition in alliance france .

How has your journey been like up until this point?

First my mum, I haven’t seen her for 24 years, my parents separated when I was three. We went to Copenhagen for two years and in 1983 came back to the Philippines , never returned to Europe since. Philippines was very different, I didn’t have a choice, it’s like the military, full of discipline.

I decided to go to the French embassy for help, my father refused to give me all the documents, so I went with only my birth certificate. They were doubtful and it took about a year for them to check my records. When they realised I was born in France , they gave me a French passport.

At that time, I was applying for a job as a graphic designer in Saudi Arabia . That was my worst experience. Paying me less money than what was stated in the contract. It was an ongoing lack of funds. I started complaining and they kicked me out.

So I went to France , it was hard times. I had no connections with my mum, with no address. I went to the police station for help, but there was a language barrier. I had to stay overnight at the park in Eiffel Tower and when I woke up, my bag was open and all my things, my money was gone, I only had my passport? That was a Saturday morning, I had to wait until Monday for the Philippine embassy to open? So I was sleeping on the streets again.

It took me 2 months to find my mum. Some Filipinos in France didn’t want to accommodate me, so I stayed in café pari, it’s like for bums? I said to myself, I want to be successful outside the Philippines , is this what I have to go through? This is too much? Then I got lucky, started sketching in Pare Park Court , getting 10 to 20 euros to do portraits. When I save my money the first thing I am going to do is go to England . That’s the nearest English speaking country.

So when I got here, I applied online for an advertising company in Barnet and I got the job. I phoned up my dad to give him the good news, but my dad passed away, the same day I got my job, I flew back to the Philippines . On my return to the UK , I brought my son and my wife, I didn’t have my job anymore. I ended up in tesco, to die filling up shelves.

But I couldn’t do it, I cannot fill up shelves for another 30 years? I will not do this? I’m going to do oil portraits, figurative paintings and introduce it to galleries. Cuttle gallery, they took two of my paintings. That’s the first time I’ve ever sold my paintings in Europe .

It sounds like a tough route, is it all worth it?

To be honest, when I first introduced my works to the gallery, because I’m a Filipino-French, they were expecting a vocational guy? Some galleries where alright, most of the posh gallery were… it became a challenge for me. Suddenly, there was an art curator who owns the West Eleven gallery, contacted me. He likes my work and wants me to do an exhibition. Saatchi phoned him up and was asking him for the works too.

As a Filipino in the UK , what issues have you encountered?

Being a Filipino in England is very hard, because your own people will not support you. That’s the biggest issue here. Any sponsorship from the Philippines , is hard for me, in tagalog they say ‘mapapagang ng para’. Will we get anything from it?

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the same field?

What I would say is, give it your best, not only a try, give everything you’ve got. Until every single penny in you pocket. It’s like a saying, you will never be the first and you will never be the last. I will not be the first artist to experience this, their may be new born babies who are going to be an artist, will come here and go through a similar path.

How would you describe a viewer looking at your work?

The emotions of my works are the pain I get, that’s from the black and white monochromes. It reminds me of rejections. Most of my work is what I feel of everyday. If you find my work with a lot of colours, I’m quite happy and relaxed, that’s what my wife tells me.

What is it about art, that can’t be explained any other way?

For me, art is the true expression of an artist’s feelings. Most viewers ask what’s inside the mind of an artist, why did he do this one? It’s about the feelings.

Do you have any masterpieces?

In the Philippines, it’s a painting of brothers. My father is composed of 9 brothers and 2 sisters. He’s the only one not in the army. So I did this big mural inside the house, on the living room wall. 8 brothers wearing the military uniform and one standing with the Philippine flag, his brothers died serving in the WW2. He was the only one left. That’s my masterpiece, and it will never be sold, they’ll have to break the whole wall.

I got a reply from Agora Chelsea in NY, they want me to send this work, for $1300. First I’m going to exhibit it, but it will be considered sold.

Your greatest triumph

Having my kid, he is my greatest inspiration, I have come to Europe to establish my name, prove it to my kid that your dad is gonna be one of the most successful Filipino artists. I want to be an inspiration to him, because maybe when he grows up, who knows, he might be an artist, a fireman?

Check out Benjamin’s latest work, entitled ‘Black & White’ using pen and inks, oil and etched glass. Inspired by the female form, his captivating imagery is a true definition of emotional expression.

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