Curated Release: MiraRuido

About the Artist:

Joseba Elorza, also known as MiraRuido, was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a small city in northern Spain. He studied to work as a sound technician, but his artistic interests pushed him towards collage, a technique he has been practicing for more than 20 years. Shortly after publishing his first works online, he received his first commissions for different magazines. Since then, his illustrations have been seen amongst publications such as Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, and Hollywood Reporter among many others.

In his eagerness to continue developing his technique, in 2013 he began to animate his collages, adding the dimension of time to his work. With the publication of his first animations, the first commissions began to arrive, with music videos being one of his main focuses of interest. Since then, he has directed and animated videos for bands like Green Day or brands like National Geographic Channel or Amazon Studio among others.

During these two decades of creative career, he has combined client work with personal artistic projects, which have been exhibited in New York, Shanghai or Paris. Thanks to NFTs, he has been able to sell all the works he has released, and this Sold Out has reached an aggregate value of hundreds of thousands of dollars between limited editions and 1/1s on platforms such as SuperRare or Nifty Gateway.

MiraRuido uses copy and paste as a technique to decontextualize the general knowledge, reconfigure our senses and re/mix the known past with the unknown future. His works show us snapshots of a different world, in which everything seems to be possible and imply a sense of ironic humor addressed to the society, showing ordinary, well-known things in a confusing new way.

About the project - Roomscape 05

 MiraRuido, Roomscape 05.  2024

In the captivating realm of artistic expression, Joseba otherwise known as MiraRuido embarks on a profound journey of exploration and inspiration. Rooted in a desire to transcend cultural boundaries, the artwork draws its inspiration from the rich tapestry of Japanese aesthetics. Delving into the intricate architecture, serene embrace of nature, and deeply ingrained cultural nuances, Japan's allure serves as a compelling muse for this project. Personally fascinated by Japanese culture,  this artwork titled Roomscape 05 reflects this paradox. The artwork is a culmination of a massive digital collage, intricately blending photos and videos to construct a surreal space. Through this work, the artist aims to pay homage to Japanese beauty while pushing the boundaries of creative expression, inviting viewers into a mesmerizing realm where reality and imagination converge in harmonious synthesis.

Roomscape 05 is now available on SuperRare 

THE INTERVIEW

Paloma: “Inside worlds” was the series that led to the culmination of the following series you titled “Roomscapes.”  Can you tell me a bit more about this?

MiraRuido: The “Inside Worlds” series was born in 2021, amidst the pandemic shock and with the memory of the lockdown still fresh in our minds. In that context, I came up with the idea of reflecting in images the inner worlds that we all had to build when a virus deprived us of the outside world. From there, these rooms emerged, housing natural landscapes through a digital collage. While maintaining their original proportions, these landscapes unfold as miniature worlds within four walls. They are compositions that mix different elements such as landscape photographs, graphic resources typical of decoration magazines, cut-out videos of flocks of birds or clouds extracted from aerial photographs among many others. All this, animated to create an infinite loop and seasoned with a sound design that I try to enhance the biome and the scene that the room is representing.

MiraRuido Inside Worlds No. 1, 2021

But these rooms aren't just a pretty picture for me; they carry a very personal -yet I'd bet a universally relatable- meaning. I've always been an introverted and extremely shy person, and in that context, my home has always been my safe haven. However, no matter how comfortable and secure I feel within four walls, I never cease to marvel at what the world offers outside of them. It's the battle between insecurity and beauty that these rooms represent to me. The interior makes me feel safe but burdens me with guilt, and the exterior captivates me but drains my energy.

“Inside Worlds” was from the beginning conceived as a very short series of 4 works in a single edition per piece. However, in the creative process, I ended up with countless sketches and ideas that I wanted to continue exploring. Moreover, since the works sold very well and gained traction on social media, I decided to keep designing, tiling, and furnishing more surrealistic rooms.

P: How was this next series “Roomscapes” born? 

M: The “Roomscapes” series will continue to explore the concept of landscapes within four walls but with fewer constraints. Though the aesthetics and technique are the same,  I wanted to cut any narrative thread that linked them to the pandemic.  Each work thus represents an idea in itself. The first pieces of this new series were not sold as unique works but in multiple more affordable editions, something that has made it possible for many people who enjoyed these rooms to finally be able to get one.

Roomscape No. 1, MiraRuido, 2023

As for the sales of the works, and taking into account that they undoubtedly also respond to a very specific moment in the digital art market, both series have so far had a sales volume of more than 140 eth, with “Roomscape 01” being the most popular and most widely distributed, with more than 900 editions.

"At some point, we all have felt more free inside a room than outside. 4 walls that give you the security to create your own inner landscapes" - MiraRuido 

Yet, beyond its commercial success, "Roomscapes" serves as a testament to the enduring power of artistic expression. Each surreal room encapsulates layers of personal meaning for the creator, acting as portals into the inner sanctums of their psyche. As the series progresses, there's an unwavering commitment to innovation and collaboration, with plans to incorporate new techniques and engage with fellow artists.

P: What inspired this particular artwork within the series titled “Roomscape 05” ?

M: "Roomscape 05" within the series draws its inspiration from a distinct Japanese influence. As an artist, I sought to diverge from the familiar Western culture that I inherently belong to and delve into the allure of foreign landscapes. Japan's rich aesthetic, with its unique architecture, nature, and cultural elements, provided a captivating canvas for exploration.

As always, there's a personal background to the work. Personally, I've always been fascinated by Japanese culture (this is almost a cliché for a Westerner like me, but it's true), but I've never been there. Why? Well, because that's just how I am, which is exactly the thread running through the Roomscapes. I could have visited Japan, but I haven't.

As far as how I created the artwork itself, it is a culmination of a massive digital collage, intricately blending together a mosaic of photos and videos. This technique allowed me to construct a surreal space, seamlessly weaving together disparate elements to evoke a sense of wonder and intrigue.

Through "Roomscape 05," I aimed to not only pay homage to the beauty of Japanese culture but also to push the boundaries of my creative expression, inviting viewers into a mesmerizing realm where reality and imagination converge in harmonious synthesis.

P: You often incorporate sound with your artworks, can you speak to the soundtrack for this particular work and how you chose it?  

M: It was a really fun process. It all starts with an initial research phase. I wanted the piece to have a Japanese sound, but without falling into silly stereotypes. There's a fine line there that isn't always easy to walk. I always rely on public domain sounds to sequence the entire soundtrack along with sound effects, so I started learning about the Shakuhachi, the Koto, the Sanshin, the Taiko... All the typical Japanese instruments that just by hearing them, transport you mentally to their landscapes. The task was to find several musical pieces that I could edit together with a few sound effects to give the piece the desired ambiance. I was aiming for a tribute to Eastern cultures and, at the same time, create a place of beauty and peace.

P: How do you decide the interplay of lighting and movement within your compositions, ensuring their significance in your artistic narrative? How might your previous role as a sound technician at a radio station played a role in your interest in incorporating audio to your work?

M: The starting point for any Roomscape should be calmness and contemplation. Not so much for aesthetic reasons but because it's from that stillness that the whole concept arises for me. Everything must support that purpose, from the lighting to the sound, including the composition itself. And of course, these works don't make sense to me without a soundtrack to accompany them. Sound isn't the main protagonist, but it's an indispensable supporting character, as important as the birds or the light streaming through the window.

P: You are guided by an interest in the surreal, what inspired this direction in your art? Who are some of your favorite surrealist artists and why?

Roomscape 03 MiraRuido, 2023 

M: There have always been different views within surrealism, and consequently, many artists have approached it from very different perspectives. Some use surrealism to depict precisely what is unreal, what belongs more to the realm of dreams than the earthly. For some reason, I've always seen surrealism as the perfect way to narrate and confront the most mundane reality. Of course I create metaphors and impossible worlds, but in the end, I always speak about what we all live and experience. These universal themes are what interest me, and for me, there's no better way to address them than through impossible situations. Perhaps I'm not aligned with Magritte's metaphysical vision, but he's undoubtedly one of my clearest references.

P: One of the key concepts in surrealism is automatism, which involves creating art without conscious control or censorship. Do you allow yourself to employ this technique when creating your work? 

M: That's why I mentioned that within surrealism, there are those who seek the most hidden corners of the psyche and those who strive to be more rational, as I try to be. But sure, these automatic processes are definitely part of my work. I would say that in collage, there isn't as much involuntary automatism as in a painter who splashes the canvas with their brush, because there's a more deliberate decision about what to cut and where to paste. However, there are undoubtedly happy accidents that often result in the best work. Having a few elements in your project and starting to play with them (with the creativity that limitations allow) always yields surprising results. It's not the unconscious-brush connection of a painter, but perhaps it's not too far off.

P: This new series is a breakaway from the series before it titled “Inside Worlds” born out of the pandemic. You mention wanting to cut the thread that ties this new series from the last. Can you explain a bit more how you hope to do this within the work ?

M: It's not so much about cutting ties with the previous series as it is cutting with what led me to create it in the first place. There was an initial attempt to relate it to the pandemic, which was a very tough time for many people, but it made us experience things very similar to millions of others; hence, universalities arise that are always interesting to address through art. But I quickly realized that those rooms meant much more to me. As I mentioned before, they appealed to a feeling that I've always carried with me and which is related to my almost pathological introversion. In that context, the dialogue between the interior and exterior takes on a new meaning, much more personal to me. That's why I started "Roomscapes" with a more open concept, which would still appeal to my most personal self but also to everyone who liked the concept and would adapt it to their own experiences, without specifying more backgrounds or concrete events from the past.

P: What do you envision for the future of this series?

M: Looking ahead, the future of the "Roomscapes" series remains an open canvas, ripe with possibilities. It's a journey marked by continuous evolution and exploration, driven by a desire to delve deeper into the enigmatic realm of surrealism. With each new installment, the series promises to unravel further layers of introspection, inviting viewers to embark on a voyage of self-discovery through the labyrinthine corridors of the mind.

I would like to explore the possibility of collaborating with other artists on future rooms. Few things would make me happier than having Guest Rooms made by my favorite artists. Something like that would be incredible and a great addition to the series. I’m working on it.

Checkout the available artwork Roomscape 05 here or see more of MiraRuido's work via his profile. 

Available now exclusively on SuperRare