Untitled (detail), embroidery on fabric, 2011, artwork by Jazmin Berakha

Based in Buenos Aires, Jazmin is a multitalented visual artist, working especially with embroidery art and textiles. She develops her work in different disciplines (film, theatre, music…), using different supports such as illustration, embroidery, installation, graphic and costume design. The latest project she’s been working on is her first solo exhibition in New York, at Heskin Contemporary. Let’s see something more!

Vanishing Park series, embroidery on fabric, 2011, artwork by Jazmin Berakha

Your work develops through different media and techniques, which one was your “first love” and how did you get to the actual point in your career?
I’ve always knew I want to do something related to art, but it kind of took a long way, passing through different careers such as graphic design, costume design, as well as arts, and somehow I mixed them all. My first love was painting, but one does not always get married with the first love, so I can tell that my currently love is, and with no doubts, the embroidery and textile art.

Could you please tell us something about your collaboration with Lola Arias for the theater play “Mi vida después”?
I did the costume design for “Mi vida después”. It was a very interesting project to do, and it’s great to have the chance to work with other artists. Even though I’m so used to work by myself, it’s always a good exercise to take part of collaborative projects.

Vanishing Park series, embroidery on fabric, 2011, artwork by Jazmin Berakha

When working on a commissioned job, how do you balance your personal taste and the client’s needs?
I never had problems with that. The people I work with often knew my style and the things I like to do, so I guess they know which my taste is, and they choose to work within that premise. At the same time, I like to please the people I work with and I put all my efforts to get the best results.

What is a typical work day like for you? Any special perks?
These past year I’ve been really focused on my personal work, so a typical day can be something like: waking up, having breakfast, checking mails, and then start to embroider or anything related to the process of one piece, looking images, making drawings, select yarns and fabrics, and so on until I’m exhausted and I have to stop at night… The best thing about this, and it’s the same if I’m doing any collaboration project or commissioned work, is to manage the schedule myself, to work and stop working whenever I want, I’ve always needed this kind of freedom.

Untitled, embroidery on fabric, 2011, artwork by Jazmin Berakha

Are you interested in fashion? Do you think that fashion could be considered art?
I’m not specially interested in fashion in therms of trend or tendency. I’m more interested in fashion history, in researching fabrics and textiles from all over the world. I believe that some expressions of fashion could be of course considered as art, and my work is permanently enriched by fashion.

What are your fav art venues / galleries in your city? Why?
I believe Buenos Aires is growing in therm of galleries and art venues. There’s a lot of new spaces to show who receive and believe in the work of new artists. That’s great for people like me, which is kind of new in this field. I’m currently working with Miau Miau, which is a great young gallery. It’s very important in places like Buenos Aires, where is not at all easy to live from art, to grow as an artist being supported by the other parts of the art world.

Los Pajaros, embroidery on fabric, 2011, artwork by Jazmin Berakha

Which was the best collaboration you had?
The best collaboration so far was the installation I made for the “Small concerts for an audience of one” by Ulises Conti. He released his solo piano album “Posters Privados” by making a series of concerts for one single person at a time, and I built this wooden structure and fabric room, with a lot of things inside, where the piano concerts took place. It was amazing.

Which place you’ve traveled to did definitely change your life? Why?
If I have to choose a place to live in besides Buenos Aires, it would be Berlin. I try to spend a few months each year there. It’s an amazing place and it definitely changed my life. I enjoy to bike all around the city, to discover hidden places, to eat two ice cream a day, and drink spritz by the canal…

Jazmin Berakha

Who is the woman you’d like to see featured / interviewed here?
I’d be amazed to see both of my grandmothers being interviewed here! They surely have a lot of amazing things to tell the world…

www.jazminberakha.com