Share This Article
Hiding something from others can make our lives a little easier, but it comes with a weird feeling sometimes.
The American painter Joseph Hopkins (aka POH, Seattle, 1993) has portrayed that sentiment in Mellow Cotton, a collection of 15 pieces that leaves no one indifferent.
We attended the inauguration of this solo exhibition at Espacio Casamadre in Madrid, where we had the opportunity to meet the artist and to explore our own feelings about secrets and lack of honesty.
SciGlam: You came to Spain for vacation six years ago but you stayed until now. Do you consider Madrid a friendly city to emerging artists?
POH: Absolutely, yes. I find Spanish people way more supportive than people in Seattle.
When I started painting, I was just painting in my room. But once I started taking it more seriously, my friend’s mom, who owns an event space and a studio, immediately took me in.
She introduced me to a lot of her friends and random people who visited the space and everyone seemed super motivating. It felt like they wanted to see me succeed.
In Seattle, as a general statement, when people get something, they won’t share it unless you are famous or rich.
The inauguration of Mellow Cotton at Espacio Casamadre was crowded. Were you nervous on that day?
I was a little nervous but not about the work itself. I was more nervous just to have to talk to so many people.
The one thing that was kind of making me nervous was to think: “okay, are they going to see the statement I am trying to make? Is it going to be clear in the art or am I the only one that feels this way?”
Talking to people during the exposition was a learning point too. For example, I had one painting with three boys looking into a window, and some lady there was really interested. She said it reminded her of her kids. It’s funny to see how someone else could interpret what to me was someone trying to look in and see what’s going on inside. I was very happy that they could see my work and find their own meaning in it.
In Seattle, as a general statement, when people get something, they won’t share it unless you are famous or rich.
What is Mellow Cotton about?
It is about admitting that you have a secret, or something that you want to share, but you can´t because you feel that it is not the right time or the right place to share it (and who knows when it will be the right time…)
How did you come up with Mellow Cotton as a name?
It doesn´t mean anything. I just wanted to find a cool name. It sounds like peach (melocotón) in Spanish. I thought of this in Seattle, and I was curious to see if people in Spain would catch on between the two words and pronounce it right. And, yes, thought the show many people came to me and asked me: “is it melocotón“? And I was like: “yes”!
In which aspect of life are you more private? Is it love, fear, guilt?
Probably guilt and the things that I am not so proud of. These are pretty much the only things that I don’t share. But I usually try to be as honest as I can because I am a terrible liar, as soon as I start lying you can see it in my face.
Nothing and no one have inspired you to become a painter. Where do you think that the urge comes from?
I first thought about starting to paint after I went to ARCO. Some of the stuff was cool, but others I thought I could have done them myself.
I’ve always liked to build things and to create with my hands—I make music as well—so I was like: “all right, I’m going to paint” and I immediately started having fun. It was super difficult, still it is super difficult, but it is the challenge what I like: making a mistake, trying to fix it.
Then later, once I started getting better at the techniques, I found the challenge in making a message, and making it clear but not that clear that it’s boring to look at.
As a young artist, what are the biggest challenges when it comes to making a space for yourself in the art market?
For me, right now, it would be selling myself, talking myself up. That has been the most difficult part. But you know, on this road no one else is going to do it for you, you have to do it.
Also, feeling that the things that I painted are ready to be sold (and to convince someone to buy it) makes me feel uncomfortable. I keep thinking: “I like it, but are they going to like it? Is it good enough”?
How could you convince the new generations to start collecting art?
Yeah, that’s a great question. With inflation (especially where I am from) and the difficulties of earning money, a lot of people don’t have extra money to be spending on art. I also think that art is not for everyone, some people are just looking for decorations and are happy with a poster. But if it is an original piece of art what you want, just save money for it. At the end of the day, it will mean more to you. It is something that you wanted, that will speak to you, that when you walk in the room will make you feel better. It is an investment.
I wouldn’t buy anything unless it really means something to me. Don’t just buy it to say you have it.
Also, there are so many artists out now that there are a lot of options; you just have to shop around and do your research and find something that you connect with. I wouldn’t buy anything unless it really means something to me. Don’t just buy it to say you have it.
What are the emerging artists that you like the most?
Probably my favorite one is Laia García. She is a Spanish girl. I love her art a lot. And then Celia La Calle is another of my favorite artists.
I just went to a show where they were both at and I got to see some of their work for the first time. It was amazing! Yes, those are my two favorite artists right now.
Which of these artists would you like to see interviewed by SciGlam?
I would say Laia García because I actually want to hear what she has to say.
You are working on new pieces at this moment, could you give us a sneak preview?
I am not preparing for another exposition at this moment. I am just painting as much as I can, trying to get better, trying to practice, focusing on composition and figures. I am taking the time to practice technically, more than portraying a meaning. But, yes, in the end, I’m always trying to say something.
I’m trying to say more about how we are all one people, how we go through the same things, how we feel the same things in all parts of the world. Probably, because we are hearing a lot about these wars going on. It is ridiculous that these confrontations started just because you think someone is different from you and we are pretty much all the same.
If you could ask a scientist of any background a question, what would it be?
I am really fascinated with time and our concept of it as humans, so I would probably ask what a Universe without time might look like (if it could exist) and if time is an emergent property of some other phenomenon.
Waiting for an answer…
