10 Questions with RecluserDark

RecluserDark is the pseudonym that hides Alba Gasset, photographer, visual and digital artist born in Barcelona. The visions that Alba projects in her pictures are a passion for industrial landscapes, ancestral and monumental architecture, sacred fields, forests, and abandoned and enigmatic places.
All these "dark places" evoke with nostalgia and melancholy the life that one day had and now has due to the passage of time. Locations that didn't lose their magic and their qualities to transmit these sensations.
That is why RecluserDark, through her lens, captures the feelings and memories of those stories, told with her camera from a special point of view and personal style.
Alba Gasset is a self-taught visual artist, her life experiences and travels around the globe have brought her inspiration to create. Her work in digital format combines architectural and natural elements to create unique and dual landscapes unfolding between time and space.

recluserdark1.wixsite.com | @rdrk_albs

ARTIST STATEMENT

A dance of shadows and lights, the works of Alba Gasset are born with the need to express that there is no light without darkness in life, and to live in harmony. They are necessary, says the visual artist, who seeks to capture the beauty in the details of what surrounds her. Alba's work is based on urban landscapes, architecture, and everything that catches her eyes.

Her work stands out for the use of black and white with high contrasts, and her digital work, on the contrary, shows a variety of intense and bright colors, even with dark tints, giving free rein to the intensity and empowerment of women.

Untitled, photography, 30x40 cm, 2022 © RecluserDark

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. You are a self-taught artist, how did you get interested in art, and how did you start experimenting with images?

I have always been a person who pays attention to details, in addition to being surrounded by creative people. My father collects and plays different instruments, and my mother is a painter and a jewelry designer. I was going to specialize in illustration, but I didn't really feel free. I started experimenting with images when I discovered Fotolog, initially with close-up selfies, experimenting with effects with my first compact camera with the sole intention of sharing them with my friends. Years went by, and I moved to Germany for a few years. It was there that I discovered the need to express with pictures how I see the world.

Fallen Angel, photography, 50x40 cm, 2012 © RecluserDark

Longing, Photography, 100x70 cm, 2021 © RecluserDark

How would you define yourself as an artist?

A bridge between reality and the internal world. For me, taking pictures is an exercise to get out of the real world and connect to my emotions.

What do you think differentiates your art from others?

I believe that each honest and creative artist is different. I am true to how I view the world in terms of my experiences, and that makes it different.
In my work, one can find connections and influences from other artists, but it's not my intention to copy their work.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? Where do you find inspiration and how do you translate it into your work?

I usually go to places that are not very crowded or at times when the city is quieter. The magic hour is usually when the sun begins to rise or when it dawns.
Although I am a planning freak, sometimes the best shots come from improvisation as any everyday moment can be inspiring.
When I create digital paintings or collages, what helps me to be inspired is the music, it helps me to connect with my inner world.

Magic Windows, Photography, 40x40 cm, 2012 © RecluserDark

Darkness and color are two focal points in your work. What messages do you want to convey with your work?

There are two different periods in my work. The first one is more focused on black and white pictures and the second is based on digital collage with colors which I started to experiment with two years ago. My monochrome works are about discovering oneself and one's place in the world. And color is more focused on women, their femininity, and their power in society.

Is there anything else you would like to experiment with?

I want to experiment with object intervention and field registration. I have done a few experiments, but so far, I have not combined all these elements in my work. I think it is interesting and gives it more dimension and power.

As a digital artist, what do you think of NFTs?

Honestly speaking, it doesn't interest me. I tried once, and it was a waste of time. Maybe it works for famous artists. I think a physical work has more value.

Do you find that the shift to digital exhibitions and art fairs has helped you promote your work?

Digital exhibitions helped me get more people to know my art during the pandemic and to get access to art galleries without having to invest much money. It is important to be present on social media and digital exhibitions, in particular, as it allows access to many more people than if they were physical.

What do you think about the art community and market?

Today with social networks, the art community is more united and allows you to meet other artists, share ideas, evolve, motivate, and collaborate on projects. The art market is made so that the creator is the one who has the least profit. There are many intermediaries who profit at the expense of the artist, and it is especially difficult for emerging artists.
Specifically, photography is quite saturated. I think it's great that more and more people are taking photos with their mobile phones, it's not the device that takes the photo, it's the eye. I'm an old school romantic even though I don't do analogue photography, the magic of a reflex camera is not given to you by a smartphone, and then when you print them and see them on paper, there's nothing that can be compared. I think it's getting harder and harder to sell because most people are used to consuming a lot of images digitally so they can download and use them as wallpaper.

Finally, any projects you are looking forward to for this year?

By 2023 I want to be more present on a local level and more focused on documentary photography. I'm about to start a new project in collaboration with another sound artist about the streets of Barcelona that will take at least 1year. It's something I'm particularly excited about as it's the city where I was born.

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