We first crafted an iconic sales booth featuring a dazzling translucent coating, playing with light and colours to create a lively, inviting atmosphere. Next to the sales center, renowned local artist Sofía Núñez painted a semi-permanent mural titled “The Future of the Area” in a figurative, contemporary style. This vibrant mural, spanning over 500m², beautifies the surroundings and creates a joyful, colourful view, offering a memorable photo opportunity for visitors.
Through this creative integration, we aim to foster community acceptance and enhance the overall appeal of the ENJOY ESCANDÓN construction site.
In this Q&A, Sofía Núñez shares her journey from hobbyist to full-time artist, her inspirations, the influence of Mexico City on her work, and her views on the importance of public art.
I’ve always been close to art. Since I was a child, it captured my attention, and I carried my drawing and painting materials everywhere. However, I never saw it as something I could dedicate myself to until I was laid off from a job. That’s when I reconnected with my practice and started my first freelance projects.
Nature has always been a place where I feel at peace, and its forms have always inspired me. There are many fascinating processes in nature, so it’s a theme I love to explore and depict. For me, the organic forms of nature connect with femininity, so I enjoy blending these elements into my compositions. Many of my portraits reflect “Mother Nature.”
I feel very fortunate to live in a country with such biodiversity. There is so much inspiration in its nature, species, and colors. I love being able to visit different places for inspiration, from colorful and traditional markets to forests or parks where I can sit and draw.
When working on projects for brands, the client often provides direction, so I adapt the materials based on the size and purpose to achieve the most efficient result. For my personal projects, I go through periods where I work mainly with watercolors, then switch to acrylics or pastels after a few months. For me, experimenting with different mediums is part of my creativity; I’m always learning something new.
Take it easy; there will be time for everything, and one thing inspires the other. Creating murals or discovering new materials inspires me to come up with new topics for workshops, and seeing others develop their creativity in my classes also inspires me.
I believe it’s crucial to have spaces where we can enjoy art in our daily lives, during our commutes, or in places we frequent that aren’t necessarily museums. I also think these spaces can inspire visitors to create or learn more about the subject. In our fast-paced lives, we often miss those moments of contemplation and calm that public art provides.
I hope it serves as a moment of contemplation for those who view it. I would be very happy if it inspires someone to take a photograph, imagine its meaning, or become interested in the murals in our city.
Fortunately, murals are usually well-received by the community. They create admiration due to their size and spark conversations about the artwork. I believe not every piece resonates with everyone, so it’s important to seek diversity in artists and spaces. One challenge is finding more spaces and government funding to carry out art projects that beautify our city’s pathways and bring the public closer to art, as well as providing education on cultural topics.
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