Natalia
Natalia Bento – poet and owner of a gallery, Natalia Bento Art Contemporani
ABOUT HERSELF
My name is Natalia and I come from the south of Spain, Alicante. I've been living there my whole childhood and adolescence.
I have been involved in the art scene since I was little as my parents are both artists. My mom isn't here anymore but she used to be a ceramist and my father is a painter. He remarried with Isabel and they run their own gallery, for 34 years now.
I always loved languages and culture and studied a Bachelor in Tourism, a Master in Sustainable Development in Berlin (Germany) and another master to become a Conference Interpreter.
MOST MEMORABLE PLACE
I have been living in a lot of places, in Boston as an exchange student, in Madrid where I started my studies at University, in Munich where I was learning German, in Berlin where I was also running my parents gallery… In Mallorca one year writing my master thesis on environmental and ethnological tourism. In 2010 I moved to France for love and left in one of my beloved cities, Marseille. There I worked as a project advisor cooperating with several NGO-s, promoting women’s empowerment.
But the most memorable place for me was definitely Morocco. It's one of the most exciting places I've ever been. There I had the opportunity to work in rural places (Middle Atlas, SOus-Massa Drâ in the South of Morocco…) as a project advisor, always involved with Social & Solidarity Economy issues as well as Women empowerment. Simultaneusly, I curated several photo exhibitions at the photography association we had with my partner of that time, Amine Oulmakki. The art scene in Morocco is very powerful and I had the chance to live from very close the spirit of revolutionaries through art. Living there as a woman, you have a lot of restrictions, nevertheless, it was a challenge for me and I learned a lot of myself, and for sure to be tough and to trust. One of the most exciting things Morocco gave me was the opportunity to be an invited speaker by the UNITED NATIONS headquarter in New York to speak about my experience as a foreign, european woman working in the country.There is also this art community in Morocco, where I was involved myself, they are doing a lot for the society through art, they are the real revolutionaries.
I was actually invited to New York by the UN to speak about my experience as a foreign, european, woman, living in a country like that.
HOME
I feel very welcome here in Mallorca. Normally home is to me, the place where your family is, where your friends are. Here I have my Gallery, my partner and my friends and also. ..my inspiration to be creative and to be an entrepreneur.
INSPIRATION
Poetry in every form, in writing and visual. Also culture rituals, people I know for many years and people that intersect my life’s path spontaneously.
FAVORITE ART FORM
For example, I love performance. « Here and now » things. Music (jazz & electronic), visual arts (photography and abstract). Any art form that touches someone deep and accompany your life on a daily basis.
SELF CARE
I need to be in contact with nature.
RITUALS
Yoga. My morning matcha. A glass of red wine here and there in the evening.
IF YOU COULD SHARE A MESSAGE WITH YOUR YOUNGER AND OLDER SELF, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
Be patient and trust life.
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING AT THE MOMENT?
At the moment Sigur Ros and Max Richter. Frequency music and this year's favorite 'Aurora'.
LAST BOOK YOU READ?
I always read several books at the same time. Mariana Enríquez, « Nuestra parte de la noche » & poetry by Alejandra Pizarnik. My best friend, Maria Velasco, a theater & drama writer, always has the best recommendations.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT BLAVA?
I like the aesthetic of communication, and like the quality of the fabrics.
