Hi Ileana! Can you please begin by briefly introducing yourself to our readers?

Ileana: Firstly, I would like to thank New Norm, Alison and the team for making this interview happen.

To be honest, I still do not know who I truly am.

It is difficult to become a person and even harder to become an artist, but I do know that I am the same as an artist and as a person.

Art is my way of communicating and I see art as an human expression and life itself as a whole.

What is the story behind your profession and passion?

I: I was a little girl filled with imagination and just like any other child, I drew a lot, but never had I ever expected myself to pursue it as a career.

I had no idea how to create art, so my art work was always something quite hidden.

I used the tools that I had discovered through intimate moments, moments of silence, grief, loneliness, and even love, but mostly to express my sadness and anguish.

Life took my down different paths to better understand that I was fighting a tide, and that all I had to do was to make these experiences visible. And so it was.

Photography by StudioStockman (@studiostockman , @isa_elle__ )

How has your background in architecture affected the way you approach your craft?

I: I do not think I learned anything in Architecture, instead, I was feeling frustrated. I am more of an autodidactic person and had always been against things that I felt were not aligned with myself.

Life took university out of my way at a time without my concern, where then I started looking into the unknown, following my intuition.

This was the best thing that happened to me.

I believe that everything comes from our inner fire, to do or create anything without an objective. I think it is this willingness that is stronger and is a way of getting close to the craft itself more than anything else.

Then you will be able to figure it out.

That is what I did, but yet, of course, it did take me a while.

How would you describe your process when working on a new project?

I: My projects begin with a subject matter of sensation but what also intrigues me is the mystery of life; what I call invisible things and so I dig deeper to combine the two. I pick up a piece of paper, write or draw my ideas, my own language which I translate onto a canvas. Each piece is created through a sense of desire and executed with music as part of the entire process.

What inspired the location of your studio?

I: Definitely the windows, the nostalgic atmosphere, people passing by, with me wondering how their lives are, the sunlight, the raindrops on the glass, or even something just as simple as a bird perched onto another building. At the very end, we all need to take the time to slow down and capture these precious moments.

You are originally from Costa Rica and are currently living and working in Belgium. As a local creative, how would you describe the design scene in both countries?

I: This is a difficult question but I will have to be honest. Costa Rica is a country embedded with many values and the design scene has remained unchanged without the strength to be seen internationally. Costa Rica has a many resources in craft but they are not valued by customers. I cannot blame the creatives at all. They have the persistence and originality, but unfortunately, not the country.

Belgium, on the other hand, is a country where design has already become integrated into their lifestyles. As an artist or a collector, it is safe to say that they have an enormous design scene, where you can even breathe art and design as you walk along the streets. It is constantly kept alive and is enjoyable.