LomoWomen: Lídia Vives About Self-Portraits

March is the month of Women's History and we want to know more about the extraordinary women from all over the world who hide behind the camera. Today we interview Lídia Vives.

Photographer Lídia Vives has gone from selfies to self-portraits with an art that she describes as disturbing. Her work is characterized by hiding secrets and creating a dream world that the public should interpret. Can you imagine photographing dreams? Keep reading and you will enter into the particular world of Lídia's art.

Hello, welcome to the Lomography Magazine. During the month of Women's History we want to know more about the work of photographers. Could you introduce yourself to the community?

My name is Lídia Vives. I was born in Lleida in January 1991, but I am currently living in Barcelona. I do artistic photography and I'm specialized in self-portrait. Through makeup, costumes and acting I usually become other people, or I rather show my other faces. I've also done fashion editorials and photo sessions for music groups.

What made you realize that you wanted to dedicate yourself to photography?

At first I had no interest in photography. In fact I saw it as a documentary medium that helped me to capture memories. My intention was to become a painter, until one day I went with the school to an exhibition of Henri Cartier-Bresson. I liked it a lot and I realized that photography could be something artistic.
I went from selfies taken with my phone to buying a bridge camera and started experiencing more as a photographer than as a model. Even though it is still about self-portraits, this time I am a means and not an end.

Most of your models are women. Is there are reason?

I always say that although the model is someone else, it is still a self-portrait. Most of my photographs speak of personal experiences, sensations that I have had, fears, dreams,… they are like an exorcism. If I work so much with self-portrait it's because I believe that nobody can tell my story better than me. That's why when I work with a model, I indicate in detail how she has to pose and which expressions she should imitate.
Most of the time they are women for the simple fact that I feel much more identified with them than with a man.

We are marveled at the particular way in which you represent the world. Or rather, your world. Could you explain to us what world you create in your photographs?

A dream world, usually aggressive, dark and dangerous... although sometimes I like to add touches of humor. I always think that my characters are evil, sad or scared.

Do you have any expectations about the interpretation that people should make of your photographs?

I always hope they do not beat around the bush. I do not like exaggeratedly deep analyzes... I find them pedantic, but I can not stop people from doing that. I just hope you enjoy and if you feel identified, that's even better. I'm especially happy when they enjoy color, that flatters me a lot. I also like if they feel a little scared, I do not know why.

What message do you want to convey through your work?

I am a very silent person. In every sense. I can not stand the noise and I hardly speak… a woman of few words, as is often said. In photography I have found a very pleasant way of expressing myself. I enjoy it and I open myself to the world in an indirect way. It's easier for me because I tell everything... but not everyone understands it. It's like half the truth.

Do your photographs have a specific audience?

Yes and no... I look at the statistics a lot and I look at the kind of people that follow my work. I know that my audience is divided between photographers (mostly), people who simply like my photos, people who like me and people from the mute art, for example, collectors. I also know that most of them are women of my age and living in Madrid.

Before finishing, we would like to propose a challenge. Do you accept it? Sum up your pictures in 3 adjectives.

Pictorial, disturbing, dreamy.

Thank you very much Lídia for your words and for sharing a bit of your world with us. If you want to know more about Lídia and her world, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

written by martagruesocoy on 2018-03-30 #culture #people #lomo