ABOUT MAK ALVAREZ
Mak (Macarena) Alvarez is a Chilean photographer and visual artist currently living in Amsterdam. Since high school, or as far as she remembers, Mak has been exploring diverse creative approaches as modern dance, documentary, and erotic photography and videos as well as plastic arts. To her, all these disciplines have the conventional meaning of being therapy or a meditative way to explore her intimate self.
Today, Mak Alvarez has been working twelve years as a photographer, six years making videos, and five with plastic arts.
Hello Mak, can you briefly describe to us what you do and say something about your technique?
My creative approach is expressive, graphic, pop, political, and inquiring. Through colors, shapes, and characters, I create by being inspired by my dreams and present life every day. I work with various disciplines, depending on my concerns. Upcycling is an essential part of my job; I try to recycle, collect, and reuse with as many resources as possible.
What is the main feature that has changed in your works throughout the years?
Everything mutates and changes. Tastes, trips, flavors, conversations. I nurture myself with every moment and experience. I think there is always the naivety and insecurity of doubt and fear, but even so, it has not paralyzed me. On the contrary, it has driven me to continue doing and expressing. Living in Amsterdam changed my perspective, inspired me to create from another place, and matured my vision and art a lot.
And what drives you to make art?
Wake up others and wake up myself. Stay alive in this sleeping world. It is my therapy, my path, and my obsession to change the world.
Mak Alvarez is an artist who digs to explore diverse points of view. Literature, art exhibitions, music, and nature are her sources of inspiration.
Also, keeping an eye on social and human issues through a spiritual and mystic approach is necessary to revive her imagination. It is finally through meditation that she perceives most of her creative ideas.
Basquiat, Yayoi Kusama, Matta, Kandinsky, Ishii Nobuo, Vermeer, and Caravaggio are the central artists that have always influenced her art.
Mak, how would you like people to engage with your work?
My ideal society is one that consumes more art and less clothing. I think that an artist needs to be more valued for his contribution to society. But living out of art is difficult everywhere. I am open to comments and interact with many people daily through social networks by being active and being so with myself. I try to collaborate as much as possible in all areas, especially to share my knowledge.
ZERO, UPCOMING DOCUMENTARY BY MAK ALVAREZ
Currently, Mak Alvarez is finishing a short documentary about the social outbreak in Chile in October 2019.
“In January 2020, when I traveled to visit my country, I came across all this artistic revolt. I wanted to register that and make something simple to leave a trace about what was going on.”
The project title is Zero, as entirely filmed at the “zero-zone,” the core of the protests, in Santiago de Chile. There were manifestations and demonstrations throughout the city, and creators of all kinds took to the streets. But today, nine months later, all the once called “zero-zone” has been normalized, and all the art removed.
“I will launch the documentary in mid-October on the Vimeo platform and through social networks.”
Mak, where do you see yourself in the future?
I picture myself living at my workshop somewhere in nature, with my plants, animals, and orchards, while making art as always.
Mak Alvarez is also part of st-Art Amsterdam, an art platform to support and all works by talented international emerging artists.
