Malambo, the Argentinian-born sculptor, grew up and lived in Colombia and eventually settled down in Ibiza. Many of the inhabitants and visitors of Ibiza know of his metal sculptures, but who is the person behind these wonderful creations? POM Magazine’s Giulia Weijerman interviewed Malambo to find out the answer to this question.
by Giulia Weijerman
What was your childhood in Argentina like?
I grew up in a hippie family. However, in 1975 the hippies in Argentina had already strayed from being genuine hippies. They had long hair but the movement was no longer about peace and love in Argentina, there was a civil war going on. So I have my roots in this open-minded family that had to fight for their freedom. My father was an artist. I create in the footsteps of my father. My career choices were the arts, or the arts (laughs).
Your sculptures are mostly made of metal. Why metal?
When I was young, I took classes in sculpting and painting. I also played the piano. I experimented with wood and all kinds of materials. My father worked with leather. Like most of us, I had a love-hate phase with my parents. It’s the phase in life where you grow independent from your parents. My challenge was: can I make beautiful things out of leather or out of metal? But metal has this great quality of being a very long-lasting material, it can last a thousand years. It withstands high humidity and lasts a long time. I mainly work with Stanley steel, but also with other metals like copper, brass and normal steel. Stanley steel is my favourite. I love how it shines and how it will stand out for generations on end.
How did your style come to be?
I guess I wanted to find my own style at first, but I think the style found me in the end. Once they’re finished, the sculptures look like a work ‘by Malambo’. I start from scratch without much direction. I use images as references, I make some sketches and then things start happening and appearing. My work never quite looks like my expectations at the start of the process. It feels like a channel manifesting something to me and things happen while creating. I don’t know how. It’s magic.
What was your first metal sculpture?
The first sculpture I made out of metal was a face. It had a kind of intergalactic feel to it.
Is there a piece that you dream of making one day?
Hundreds, for sure. But no single work in particular. I have many thinks I’d like to make.
Not something spectacular, say a three-meter sculpture or something along those lines?
Actually, I am trying to reduce the size of my sculptures because I’ve realised that size is highly related to ego. Of course, I felt very proud the first time I created a large sculpture. But I eventually realised that bigger doesn’t mean better.
Perhaps not ego, but do you create to leave something behind? Or do you create art for the sake of creating art?
I have fun making art. When I create something that I find very beautiful, I fall in love with it. It is important for me to fall in love with a piece. It confuses me if someone offers me money for it. I don’t understand the exchange of money for something I love
You’re also a DJ, making music. That’s something very different from creating sculptures, isn’t it?
Being a DJ is ‘plan B’ when you want to become a pianist but your commitment is not enough. I am a carpenter, I am a sculptor and I am a DJ. Those are my three professions. Now, I organise successful music events here in Ibiza. I think it’s wonderful to see people connecting and dancing on a dance floor. Music brings us together.
What kind of music do you enjoy playing at these events?
Minimal house, but in my own time I listen to Jazz music. I love Jazz. I keep up to date with everything Jazz and I go to various Jazz concerts. That’s important! That’s the music I wish people would follow more, instead of that ‘umf-umf-beat’.
What do you think the difference between Jazz and that kind of beat is?
Complexity. Electronic music is made with a computer. It doesn’t need a lot of skills to create an ‘umf-umf-beat’. Jazz is more complex, you need to attend the conservatoire and learn to play instruments. What I love about Jazz is that it tells a story. Those stories can make you feel sad or happy. It can take you to deep places in your heart and soul.
Do you also experience these feelings when you create your metal sculptures?
Yes, but it’s completely different. Creating a metal sculpture is a slow process. You have to visualise first how you want it to look. Then you have to weld it. It requires patience.
Do you feel that you live your life according to a certain slogan?
Well, I am in the midst of an existential crisis. It is a positive crisis, mind you. Not one full of depressions or anything like that. I’ve accomplished a few of my purposes in life. I feel happy about that. But now I need to find some new directions. I am not giving up sculpting, but I need to find a different meaning for it. I don’t want more money or fame. It is difficult to describe what that new meaning would be, I am still looking for it.