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\u2019s Giulia Weijerman interviewed Malambo to find out the answer to this question.<\/p>\n
by Giulia Weijerman<\/em><\/p>\n What was your childhood in Argentina like?<\/strong> Your sculptures are mostly made of metal. Why metal?<\/strong> How did your style come to be?<\/strong> What was your first metal sculpture?<\/strong> Is there a piece that you dream of making one day?<\/strong> Not something spectacular, say a three-meter sculpture or something along those lines?<\/strong> Perhaps not ego, but do you create to leave something behind? Or do you create art for the sake of creating art?<\/strong> You\u2019re also a DJ, making music. That\u2019s something very different from creating sculptures, isn\u2019t it?<\/strong> What kind of music do you enjoy playing at these events?<\/strong> What do you think the difference between Jazz and that kind of beat is?<\/strong>
\nI 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).<\/p>\n
\nWhen 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\nI guess I wanted to find my own style at first, but I think the style found me in the end. Once they\u2019re finished, the sculptures look like a work \u2018by Malambo\u2019. 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\u2019t know how. It\u2019s magic.<\/p>\n
\nThe first sculpture I made out of metal was a face. It had a kind of intergalactic feel to it.<\/p>\n
\nHundreds, for sure. But no single work in particular. I have many thinks I\u2019d like to make.<\/p>\n
\nActually, I am trying to reduce the size of my sculptures because I\u2019ve 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\u2019t mean better.<\/p>\n
\nI 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\u2019t understand the exchange of money for something I love<\/p>\n
\nBeing a DJ is \u2018plan B\u2019 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\u2019s wonderful to see people connecting and dancing on a dance floor. Music brings us together.<\/p>\n
\nMinimal 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\u2019s important! That\u2019s the music I wish people would follow more, instead of that \u2018umf-umf-beat\u2019.<\/p>\n
\nComplexity. Electronic music is made with a computer. It doesn\u2019t need a lot of skills to create an \u2018umf-umf-beat\u2019. 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.<\/p>\n