Spanish born Aldara Ortega has lived quite the interesting life. As a New York transplant, Ortega has worked as a fashion model before moving behind the camera to capture images. With an artistic background in painting and sketching, a degree in Fashion Design and experience in the modeling world, Aldara has a unique understanding of the female form. This creative vision is captured in her underwater images and she is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to create an exhibition to showcase her work.
When did you begin working as an artist?
I have always liked painting; it has been my passion since I was 8 years old. I originally wanted to study art, but my parents did not want me to. They suggested that I do something creative that I enjoyed, where I still painted and sketched, so I chose Fashion Design.
Art has never felt like work, it is my passion. Moving to NYC in 2009 is when I started to dedicate myself more. The apartment that I subleased a room from belonged to a painter. So for fun we started having painting sessions together. It became a daily routine for a year. The photography came a few years later in 2011.
You’re originally from Madrid, Spain; you now live in New York. Do you feel the change in cultures has impacted your art, or your approach to art?
I definitely felt an impact in my approach to art from living in New York. Maybe, it also had to do with timing, but when I lived in Spain, I studied and worked in fashion as a freelance designer. Even though I enjoyed art, I still was more connected to fashion world, the designers, trends, etc... Design was my priority. When I moved to New York I got inspired but I didn't feel like creating clothes, so as a creative outlet, I started to paint.
You shifted from painting to photography, how did that come about?
I started to paint underwater subjects because I got inspired by how the light reacted in water, the movement and how it affected my state of mind when I was submerged in it. I needed a way to escape the noise of the city. Being in the water gave me that feeling, I wanted to take that sensation out of the water. I started to shoot underwater images with a little camera to use them for my mixed media art, at one point I felt that the images were so beautiful that I could not paint over them.
You’re having your first solo gallery show on starting on October 15th at NH3 Gallery, which is part of Splashlight in New York. Tell me a bit about the works you’ll be showing?
It will be a collection of photographic series that I have done in this last four years doing underwater photography. It will range from underwater nudes, to my work with the refraction of light projected onto female bodies. Also, a more abstract series called Liquid Desert. Where the refraction of light simulates an underwater desert landscape. My most recent works experimenting with woman and textiles. Where the material becomes an extension of their bodies. The images are almost like paintings, where reality weaves with a dream like atmosphere.
What is it about underwater photography that draws you to it?
Through underwater photography I can express the beauty, freedom and joy I experience while being in the water. I aim to give visual form to this light infused world, where muted sound and weightlessness take me to a meditative state. One of my focuses with my work has been to capture the sensation of liberation using the female form, which is the best representation of how I feel underwater. I see women as sculptural figures who transport the audience to a through their movements and their connection with the water. They are no longer just human beings: they free their movements, forget about themselves, become one with their bodies, transcending into sensations full of passion.
You also work as a fashion model. When did you begin modeling?
I began modeling 15 years ago while I was in school. It was not until I moved to the States that it became a full time profession.
Do you feel that working in front of the camera has helped you work behind the camera?
It has definitely helped. I always try to put myself in the photographer’s shoes to give them the best image of myself. The attitude that they might be looking for or the expression and the movement.
Now being the photographer, I can better express to my models how I want them to do all those things, because I have been there and I understand how challenging it can be.
Along with your underwater photography, you also shoot dancers. Tell me a bit about how that series came about?
Living in New York is difficult to find a place to shoot underwater. So, shooting dancers is another creative outlet for me. Dancers really understand how to express with their bodies. Their movements are full of passion. Even though, they are moving freely, they are extremely aware of their bodies. Recently, I have been shooting more dancers underwater. It's marvelous to watch because they become freer than ever since they are weightless.
You’re launching a Kickstarter campaign called liquid project. Tell me a bit about that.
I launched the "Liquid Project" campaign in Kickstarter because it was too challenging economically for me to put this solo exhibition on my own, I needed economic back up to help me cover all the cost of putting together something like this. I didn't want money to stop me from my dream, so I created this campaign to remove what was stopping me from doing it. I think there is always a way to get what you want, even if it seems impossible at times. It is incredible how people have showed me their support and backed me up to make my opening happen, I am so happy!
Where would you like to see your career go in the next few years?
First of all, I would love to be able to share my art with the world. I believe that in order to do so, it's important to find galleries that would like to represent my work. That would allow me to focus more in the creative aspect of being an artist.
My goal at some point is to make my art a full time profession. Being able to create high quality art, that will allow me to successfully work with galleries.
Aldara Ortega
Aldara Ortega
Aldara Ortega
Aldara Ortega
