Maria Huerga: "You will go through a brutal physical and mental struggle, but you can come out on top."

ManacorMaria Huerga (Manacor, 1970) is happy. With her own house and studio, she's constantly working on different artistic projects. This evolution will lead her, for example, to exhibit in Madrid (next March) at the parallel fair to ARCO. We spoke with her about art, gender violence, and the critical and politically charged installation she displays every November 25th in the Sa Bassa square in Manacor.

Are you satisfied with everything that's been happening to you in recent years?

— I'm thrilled because I have many projects underway and I'm eager to see them through. A friend and I have formed Col·lectiu LIER, and we'll soon be exhibiting at Hibrid Art, the parallel exhibition to ARCO. At the same time, I'm working on a fairly substantial project that I'll tell you more about later. Starting December 11th, I'll be participating in a group exhibition in Barcelona, and on January 8th, I'll have my first show at the Sa Bàscula gallery in Manacor.

It is constantly forming.

— I'm still studying and getting interior design and decoration commissions, yes. I already had the degree, but I needed to learn more about three-dimensional modeling, for example, to adapt to new demands.

What has changed?

— Now I use art and color in a much more scientific way, as if they were musical notes. Interiors and buildings work together harmoniously. I base my work on the golden ratio, the 22 paths of Kabbalah, and the structure of classical altarpieces. I've been studying and reading many books on the subject, on the symbolic figures found in cloisters, dodecaphony in composition, the geometry of forms… Actually, if math hadn't been my strong suit, I would have studied Architecture. Even so, the Fine Arts degree included a course in descriptive geometry, and I've always bought technical drawing and architecture books on my own; they've never been a great effort for me. Quite the opposite.

What is the name and meaning of this year's art installation?

— Is calledEmpty ChairsAnd although it may seem like a simple piece, it carries a great deal of symbolism. It deals with absent women and the swift escapes that leave things and remnants in their wake. And a central chair, stained with blood, represents the woman trapped in the circle. However, there is also an optimistic message. You will go through a brutal physical and psychological struggle, but you can eventually emerge, even if it starts off very badly.

Economic dependence is a difficult reef to overcome.

— Over the years, helping many women in difficult situations, I've seen firsthand that many are indeed financially or housing-dependent on the man who abuses them, and this clearly complicates matters. Even so, the message is always to report the abuse and leave… and above all, to speak out, to change the way things were before, because now there will be people who will help them. They develop such a distorted self-image that they lose their sense of self and constantly justify their abuser, mostly because he's the one who has the job and the money.

You saw it yourself at home.

— My mother endured constant pressure from my father, even though the house wasn't hers. Although the situation was unbearable, they kept coming and going. Until one day I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up to my mother and forced her to choose between him and me. If it was him, I knew I would leave and never see her again.

Are things changing?

— A little, yes, but even in relationships, there's still the figure of the false flatterer, whom I can personally spot at a glance. The one who's overly attentive at first and ends up making possessive comments. After a few months, you see that same girl with a sad, listless face, and you know something's happened.

Now you are happy.

— Now I am filled with happiness. Despite everything that has happened, I felt the need to tell my story, to let it be known (she has written the book).King's Son(regarding the domestic violence I suffered). I don't understand how there are still people who are so shocked when I talk about it, while they see wars as normal… I've managed to have my own dog, who is also my own workshop. To believe in myself and in what I do, and ultimately to be happy with what I have. I've known how to surround myself with very interesting people and good friends.

When everything falls into place, even if looking back is painful.

— I've been through things, even as a child, that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. But now life is peaceful, filled with work, painting, and friendships. Fortunately, I've been achieving my goals without much help, entirely on my own. And although I've encountered closed doors at many galleries, everything eventually falls into place if you believe and work hard.

Is being a woman an impediment in the art world?

— I'd say it's more of a family obstacle when it comes to doing things than something that influences the artistic field. If you know you're on the right track, everything is easier; negative comments no longer matter.