For me, art and wine make the perfect couple. Alone, they stand sublime. Get them together, and they raise each other to dizzying heights.
With that, I’d like to introduce you to the Argentine painter and sculptor Fabian Perez, my special guest for this Valentine’s Day edition of the blog.
Like a good glass of Malbec or Amarone (which happens to be Fabian’s favourite wine), his paintings are powerful and sensual, characterised by bold, energetic brush strokes which dance to the late-night rhythms of Buenos Aires, where he grew up.
There, among the dashing men and beautiful women who frequented the after-hours bars where his father was patron, Fabian captures what it is to love and be loved, in one single, snapshot moment – whether that’s a couple entangled in a romantic liaison or two friends sharing a moment of joyful, unguarded laughter.
On Fabian’s canvases, wine is the invisible thread which brings people together, sparking the intimate, physical moments which fascinate Fabian as a figurative artist. Sometimes a glass of wine is raised in the air in a carefree toast; other times, it sits quietly on the bar, an accessory to solitary introspection.
As Fabian reveals in our conversation together, loneliness is more present today than ever before. The desire to love and connect, to explore and define our values – and in doing so learn to be at peace with ourselves – is something we all need right now.
As Fabian says, there’s something to be said for fighting for a more romantic world. It brings you back to the essential things in life. Get those right, and you can’t go wrong.
First off, could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Fabian Perez. I’m Argentinian but I’ve lived in Los Angeles for more than 20 years. Before that I lived in Europe. I’m a painter and sculptor and I do a lot of shows in England. It’s pretty much my second home.
How old were you when you first started painting?
I started drawing when I was about six or seven years old and then started painting when I was 12 or 13. But I decided to be a professional painter probably when I was about 22 or 23 years old.
Where did your inspiration first come from?
Normally, I paint from life: things that I would like to do, things that I did, things that I would love to see. But the common denominator in everything is beauty – not just the beauty that you see on the outside but that inner beauty. That’s what really inspires me.
What is your favourite moment of the day to paint?
When I was single, I would go to the bars for inspiration, then come back, go to the studio and paint until morning. But now that I have a family, we enjoy the whole day together. When they go to school I go to the studio and when they come back from school, I go back to the house too. And I’m really happy. It’s a more natural way of life.
Which painting kicked everything off and really made art a career for you?
I can mention a few but probably my most famous or iconic painting is called ‘Tu’, which shows a man sitting alone at a bar. When I painted it, I had pictured myself growing older. But now it’s kind of true.
If you can go back in time to any period in history, which would you choose?
I think the 1800s are very beautiful. They strike a good balance between now and then. If you go too far back it was too extreme, you’re going to go to war, you’re going to die when you’re 40. But the 1800s were a good time to be alive, I think.
What about if you could go back to another time in your life?
When I was a kid, I hated school with all my heart. I loved to be with grown-ups, staying up really late and playing cards and dice. I was going to bed at 2am or 4am so I didn’t want to wake up. But then I think the present moment for me is also one of the best times in my life. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’ve been planning this for a long time and now I have it so it’s time to enjoy.
From all the paintings you’ve been commissioned to do, which ones impacted you the most?
Pope Francis was a big one. I think when I painted the Pope, he was the most popular man in the world. That was a really big achievement for me. And from all the celebrities I’ve painted, Arnold Schwarzenegger was amazing, Maradona too. They’re all so special in their own unique way, it's difficult to only choose one.
If you could paint anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
I’d do Jesus because I think he’s a really controversial figure. Some people believe in him and pray to him, others hate him. But I think his personality has been so manipulated through all these years that we don’t really know who he was. I’m not a Christian, I’m not religious. But still, I think he’s the person that really intrigues me the most.
If you could choose to be another painter, who would you be?
Picasso is the painter I admire the most. Not because I like to paint like him but because he was really bold. He changed the art world and he didn’t care about anything. There are so many different styles that he tried and improved and he painted for so many years and produced so many pieces. Normally, people say you shouldn’t be painting that much because you undervalue your pieces but he didn’t care. He probably painted more than 35,000 pieces in one lifetime and that’s why I really admire him.
If you could choose to drink wine somewhere in London, where would it be?
Clarendon Fine Art gallery [in Mayfair] is a good place to be. They have a really good red wine for me, an Amarone. It’s kind of strong and really bold in your mouth but at the same time it’s gentle, there’s no acid.
What is the most awkward moment you’ve ever had involving wine?
I’ve had lots but the one that comes to mind is when I first met my wife, Lucy. I actually told her that I like to drink a lot of wine but to not worry as I can control myself. The next day, we went to a restaurant in Beverly Hills where we ate and chatted and I drank a bottle of wine. At the time I drove a huge Cadillac, a red one from the 1970s. When we got to the valet parking, I came out and drove off in the opposite direction, with two wheels on the sidewalk and two wheels on the street.
What about your most fun memory involving wine?
Probably all of them. The thing is, when I drink it helps me feel inspired, especially when you share wine with somebody that you love or somebody that you agree with. Normally, I drink by myself or with people I like. When I don’t feel comfortable with someone, I prefer not to drink at all.
Most of your paintings feature wine in some form. I would love to know why.
Mostly, I paint people by themselves and I think that’s a great moment to have a glass of wine. So, it’s not about the wine so much but about the moment. It’s about sharing.
Have you ever actually tried to paint with wine?
Actually, no. I drink it, I don’t want to waste it on painting.
You appear sometimes in your own paintings. Why?
Usually, I do it because I want to say something about me. But also, I do it because it’s challenging. It’s challenging because you know yourself and have expectations of yourself and sometimes you struggle to put all the ideas that you have about yourself in the painting.
What’s your favourite topic to paint?
I prefer to paint women, actually, because it’s more difficult. When you paint men it’s more forgiving because you can be rough and loose but when you do the same thing with a woman all the delicacy of the skin and the face and that beauty can go away. You need to be very careful and treat the painting in such a way that you embellish her and don’t ruin her.
Have you ever wanted to paint the Queen?
I’ve painted a few members of the Royal family and I’ll be painting the Queen pretty soon. Last year, the Spencer family opened up the house [Althorp House, where Princess Diana grew up] and had an exhibition where they presented the portrait that I did of Lady Karen Spencer. It was a lovely time.
If you weren’t a painter, what would you be?
My kids have a band, it’s called The Perez Band and they’re really young but they’re really good. My dream is to play with them at some point. But actually, realistically, I think I was born to be a painter and if I was to be reborn another hundred times, I would be a painter again. First of all, it’s really easy for me to paint, it comes naturally to me. And secondly, it goes really well with my personality. When you’re a painter, you’re by yourself. The only thing you need is the canvas, colours and brushes, that’s it. You don’t need to wait for or depend on anybody else.
Your paintings are filled with emotion. For people who struggle with their emotions and get caught up in them, what tip would you have for them?
It’s hard to cope in this current situation, especially if you’re alone. But you can’t cut yourself off from your social life, it’s what we need as humans. But one thing I never do is search for happiness outside of myself. If you’re not in tune with yourself, it’s very difficult to be in tune with anybody else. I think during what is a pretty horrible time right now, we have a great opportunity to explore that.
Is there something no one knows about you?
Many people don’t know that I’m really an introvert. I’m fine right now but normally, it’s really hard to find me. I’m much better when one-on-one with people or by myself. I like to observe people but I don’t like to interact with them. Most people think I’m really extroverted as I talk a lot but I’m the polar opposite, I’m really shy. It’s just the way I am.
What is something you would love to be able to do?
To play music would be a dream come true for me. I’d love a guitar or drum set to become part of my body, to know it so well that you don’t have to think about it. You just play and let it flow.
You say that you’re always fighting for a more romantic world. Would you like to explain that?
I think that in today’s modern world it’s really difficult to show values. Now, being a father, it’s really difficult to tell my kids what was right for me because what was right before now is wrong and what is wrong right now before was fine. So I think we should go back a little bit to the essential things in life. Once you’ve got the essentials, you can’t go wrong.
You talk about being inspired by samurais and Buddhist monks. I would love to know a bit more about that.
Well, the samurais were the first soldiers that introduced religion, or Zen, into the art of war. And that helped them because their focus was on the present. But actually, you can apply that in everything. When you do something in the moment, it’s when your real soul expresses itself. That’s when whatever you happen to do becomes art because it’s when you are most yourself. There’s a Japanese way of painting which is called ‘shodo’ and that’s when you’ve got just one shot to get it right. It’s so precise that if you’re not a master it’s really difficult to do it and that’s really fascinating to me. I don’t like to use it in my paintings though because I think every stroke is really important, even the mistakes. It’s the mistakes that add texture and rhythm and movement to a painting.
Do you have advice for anyone aspiring to be a successful artist?
I have a formula that works for me and it’s three things that you have to keep in mind. First of all, you need to have a goal. Secondly, you need to be disciplined. And thirdly, you need to be self-confident. When you have these three things, you can achieve anything in life. Once you know what you would like to achieve, you can pursue that. You just need to be sincere with yourself.
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