German-born, globally-bred and Portugal-based surrealist artist Paulo Sanches is a very unique person. He calls himself a ‘lonely traveler’. Paulo does not walk around looking for or needing anyone’s acknowledgement and/or praise. He is so comfortable in himself and his art to that he has the guts to let all know that his work is really a monologue. So if you appreciate his art, you are actually eavesdropping on something that is not necessarily for you. Style.No.Chaser really appreciates this attitude because it proves that art and artists should never adhere to a intransigent worldly views. Paulo portrays the most authentic self that he can and is not be held hostage by his ego. His art tackles you like every good surrealist’s art should, but it also lingers like a stubbornly beautiful dream that woke you up. It was a great pleasure to connect with someone so well evolved but still admits that he is still growing.
See the interview below.
“Surrealism has a specific audience. Unless an image is aesthetically appealing …”
Please tell us a little about yourself – your childhood, siblings, where you grew up, what you liked as a child, strange thoughts as a child/now, unique attributes, where you live now, etc.?
I was born in Germany. I moved to Toronto as a baby and lived there until the age of 8. After that I never stayed long in the same place (Germany, Portugal, and Mozambique) until adulthood. This nomadic background has given me knowledge of different cultures and a strong ability to adapt to various circumstances. I now live in the south of Portugal. Fine weather, stunning beaches and good food is the norm for me now. I was an introverted kid that loved science, sci-fi, horror movies, and strange stuff in general and of course drawing.
Where do you think you would be without art?
I don’t think I would be anywhere without art. Art will always be with me in some way. I have worked most of my life as a carpenter and a chef, both creative professions.
How do you describe your form of art?
Beyond surreal? I don’t really know. It’s beginning to become more and more organic and emotional. Maybe someone can come up with a name for it.
There is a surrealist feel and different levels of humor in your work – is this a correct way to describe your work? How did you develop and create your personal art style?
I think this is accurate. Although I think humor is a more side effect from using irony or sarcasm to expose various emotional states or situations. I avoid direct messages. I don’t like obvious things and part of the fun is to let each person create his/her own assessment.
Is there a larger message you are trying to convey with your work?
Not really. Each drawing has its own back story. It’s more of an individual chimera than a dialogue with the viewer – it’s a monologue that I let you watch. I focus on the human communication process and try to synthesize it with the use of eyes and hands; a large percentage of emotional communication goes through there. Then I randomly join the non-obvious details as hidden clues, just as our subconscious does when we dream.
What is the worst critique you have ever received about your work? What is the best compliment that you have received about your work?
Surrealism has a specific audience. Unless an image is aesthetically appealing to a wider audience, only surreal lovers dig into it. The appreciators of my work are tolerant and even eager to embrace the uniqueness/difference. Either that or I have just been lucky. Most of the time I do get compliments, actually yours (Style.No.Chaser) was the most complete one – thank you.
Which artist/s do you look up to the most?
Hard to say, every day I discover new artists that surprise me somehow. I have preferences, not idols, and I love different artists for different reasons. I follow everything related to surrealism especially painting and photography but curiously my biggest influences came from comic books and literature.
Since Style.No.Chaser is a men’s lifestyle magazine, what attributes/items/clothing /etc. do you think define a man?
Would it be a cliché to say that what defines a man are their actions? This is the truth, the rest is only for displaying the ego and it’s up to each person to decide what makes them happy or comfortable.
What is your personal life philosophy?
Keeping an eye on objectives … one day at a time.
Who dead or alive, celebrity or not, artist or not, would you like to go on a two week road trip with and why?
For real, it would be my daughter, she makes me laugh. Hypothetically, it would have to be a hybrid of several people, and for long as two weeks, everything is likely to go wrong. I am a lonely traveler.
How can people learn more about your current and upcoming works?
They can check on my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TSÜ and V.A.G.
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