Artist in conversation: Yuyu Feifel Santos
Yuyu Feifel Santos is an interdisciplinary artist of Puerto Rican and German origin. This mixture of cultures deeply influences her work as a poet and artisan. Art has been integral to her life since childhood, when she devoted herself to painting and drawing. Over time, writing became her greatest passion. While pursuing literary studies at the University of Puerto Rico, she discovered goldsmith jewelry, leading her to create her own brand.
She has developed a unique crafting process that allows her to work across mediums, which she finds essential for maintaining creative freedom in her career. Her process begins with writing a poem or a series of poems with a particular motif. These poems inspire imagery, which she then translates into designs for jewelry making and textile printing.
Recently, collage has become her preferred medium for non-commercial, exploratory pieces. Collage enables her to visually express the complex and abstract imagery of her poems, capturing their dreamlike aesthetic. She believes that both poetry and collage invite interpretation, relying on the reader's or viewer's perception to complete the narrative.
Her latest work includes two collage pieces that visually manifest poems from an unpublished book she plans to release this year. This collection of poems and collages explores intimacy in romantic and platonic relationships, alongside a female perspective on pleasure and erotism, expressed with subtlety and tenderness.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
The arts and crafts played an important role in my childhood and adolescence. As I grew up in the countryside on the west coast of the island of Puerto Rico I had a lot of time off to wonder and explore different creative practices, all self-taught as there were not so many art resources near my neighborhood. My mother was a very creative woman with many talents and my grandmother from my father’s side too, both of them are a huge inspiration for me. So I could say that since the beginning, art has been a part of my way of living and has remained so throughout my life. I developed my style throughout the years by embracing the cultural and aesthetic diversity of my German and Puerto Rican background. The mixture of different creative practices without feeling the limitation of sticking to one particular way of art also contributed a lot to what is Yuyu Feifel today. Seeing how everything is interconnected and immersing myself in the beauty of my surroundings, flowing with the rhythms of life is how I came to be the creator I am today.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
In many of my poetic works that later translate into different types of art pieces, I have the chance to explore diverse topics; frequently I find myself approaching themes such as the importance of memory keeping, and the strength of human affections in romantic and platonic relationships. I write, collage, and design a lot of my work thinking about the parallelism between the human body and nature, often addressing this relationship in a sensitive and feminine way. What draws me to these topics is life itself. Much of my work is based on my reality and the lives of those surrounding me. My personal story, and how the stories of others intertwine with mine led me to channel these motifs into my creative work. Record keeping, contemplation, and making an effort to remember to feel our feelings are very simple tasks that bring us closer to our humble human nature and that is what also moves me as an artist.
How do you navigate the balance between self-destruction and re-creation as a way towards conscious Happiness?
Processes of self-destruction and re-creation are both equally important and necessary in our journey not only as artists but as individuals. Instead of calling it self-destruction, I’d like to address it as deconstruction. Sometimes only through the process of deconstructing ourselves is when we truly get to know and recognize each part that makes us who we are, and only then we are free to choose how to re-create ourselves; always holding on to the possibility of further change and growth. By paying attention to the relevance of each process and integrating the knowledge or lesson that they bring I can be more honest and compassionate with myself. Conscious happiness to me is being present and capable of respecting the timing of my life, embracing it is how I find balance.
Can you discuss a specific piece or project that challenged you as an artist, and how you overcome those challenges?
More than a specific piece or project what I find most challenging as an artist is the exercise of making art within the context of the fast-paced, consumerist, and decadent society we live in right now. The world my generation has inherited pushes us further away from the rhythms that enable us to be healthy creative beings it is hard to keep up with all the demands of the current economy and society and also sustain a consistent and profitable artistic practice. I try to overcome these challenges by first being very compassionate towards myself and the context I live in, then I focus on how I manage my time, as time is my most valuable asset I pay attention to what I dedicate it to. By being more present and attentive I get to center myself and prioritize what is most important to me and my creative work is one of those things. Recognizing when a pause is necessary is also a big part of the artistic process and I am constantly learning how to implement this in my life.
How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?
Currently, I live in the metropolitan area of the island of Puerto Rico which has a very active and diverse artistic scenery. I attend live performances as much as possible, surround myself with creative minds, and stay in touch with other artists through social media. Being curious and having an appetite for learning has allowed me to keep on with my creative pursuits and meet like-minded people along the way,
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
I approach critics and feedback from the audiences more as something to take into consideration but not something that determines the true nature of my artistic work. I always try to be as discerning as possible to take in what I consider could serve my work well and leave the things I do not need to carry with me. I believe that one of the beautiful things about poetry and collages is that most of their meaning truly relays on the eye of the viewer and the interpretation of the reader, which means that most of us are going to experience each piece or poem differently and that in turn is going to influence our opinions on the artwork. I keep this in mind when I receive feedback and I respect and value anybody that takes the time to approach my work and share their thoughts about it with me.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
After graduating from college I went into a long period without writing. I kept on making art, mostly photography and goldsmith jewelry, but in my heart writing has always been my main way of expression. I recovered my writing by confronting the blank page despite the fear of uncertainty. I started writing again but this time I wanted to make it a part of my daily life, and in a way, I needed to gently force myself to take time to do what I love. That’s when I started a routine with my best friend and artist Katia Pacheco, where she frequently sends me a random word and my assignment is to write a poem using that word. I don’t get a new one until I have written something with the word already assigned. This exercise has been a great motivator to keep myself inspired and even on busy days or troublesome moments, I have these sacred minutes to ponder upon a word and try to create something beautiful or at least touching with it. Another way I address blocks is by resting, it is important to me to admit when the creative stream has run dry for a moment, and taking some time aside to reconnect and recharge always helps me to come back to a piece of collage or poem with fresh eyes.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to exhibit my artwork with The Holy Art Gallery in Barcelona. To me, as an independent writer and artist from Puerto Rico, showcasing my work in another country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean is a step that feels very empowering, I believe that in the current times that we are living in is important for female Caribbean voices to be heard. It is important for art made by women from diverse backgrounds (and women-identified folks) to have a space to be shared and appreciated. Women’s art is filled with strength and tenderness, and the world needs more of it. I am very grateful for this experience.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
In my long-term plans, I want to keep on writing, I already have in mind various compilations of poetry to publish in the future. The collage practice as a companion to my poems is something that I see happening in further projects as well as the incorporation of analog photography. Some of my poetry work is also been turned into songs and spoken word pieces, through collaborations with a local studio in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Exploring this new field and sharing my verses in diverse mediums is something I look forward to. Through my brand of handcrafted jewelry and art, I will continue creating seasonal collections based on the motifs of my poetry, these one-of-a-kind pieces are and will continue to be available locally in Puerto Rico on artisan markets and internationally through my website yuyufeifel.com.