Interview with Sean Mackaoui

q)Please introduce yourself.

a)Hello. My name is sean.

q) Where do you live and work?

a)Madrid, Spain.

q) How would you describe your work to someone who has never seen it?

a)Cut and paste

q) How did you start in the arts? How/when did you realize you were an artist?

a)By working at it. I never went to university . I cannot draw or paint. I wanted to be a photographer but I take terrible photographs. But I am good with scissors ( I like to think).

q) What are your favorite art materials and why?

a)Scissors. Spraymount. Paper. Old paper. Small electric motors. Wood. Junk. A bit of this and a bit of that. Other peoples disregarded stuff. I like to use things that other people regard as useless or rubbish. I think it is very ironic.

q) What/who influences you most?

a)Everything. Music, literature, travel, food, a joke, images, history, politics, people.

q) Describe a typical day of art making for you.

a)There is no typical day. There are days when you manage to do something that you are reasonably proud of, and the other days you try to get there.

q) What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?

a)There are so many that it seems mad to write them all down, plus I am sure I would forget many names. I will say that the people who have most influenced me are joan brossa, diego lara and h.c. westermann.

q) How long does it typically take you to finish a piece?

a)The objects take longer than the pieces on paper. A collage on paper never really takes longer than 3 or 4 hours. If it does, I get bored. The magic goes out of it. An object can take a week or 2, depending on the materials I need or find along the way.

q) Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are you emotionally attached to them?

a)I get emotionally attatched to some pieces but it is good they leave home. Otherwise I would never try and do better. I have only refused on several occasions to sell one of my colleges for sentimental reasons.

q) Is music important to you? If so, what are some things you're listening to now?

a)Very. The Kings of Leon, Super Furry Animals. Arnaldo Antunes. Seu Jorge. Eddie. Beirut. Nick cave.

q) Books?

a)I have just finished reading 2 great books. “The brief wondrous life of oscar woa” by juno diaz. “Me cheeta: my life in Hollywood.” By Cheeta.

q) What theories or beliefs do you have regarding creativity or the creative process?

a)Shut up and Get on with it.

q) What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing) when you're not creating?

a)Live life.

q) Do you have any projects or shows coming up that you are particularly excited about?

a)A collective exhibition called POESIA VISUAL that opens on the marvellous island of Formentera on 1st June. With my heroes Joan Brossa and Chema Madoz.

q) Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer, and answer it.

a)Q: How does it feel to be 90? A: Pretty good actually.

q) Any advice for aspiring artists?

a)Be faithful to yourself not to trends

q) Where can we see more of your work online?

a)The google universe I suppose…