Manu Jorquera came to painting through graffiti and came to graffiti through music, and those origins have never been shed. The practice still runs on the same fuel: mate in the morning, rap on the speakers, a vinyl collection that absorbs different cultures and rhythms and feeds them back into the visual work. The turning point arrived at a party, of all places, when a book on Picasso fell open and Guernica made its impact felt with enough force to redirect a life toward formal art study and total commitment. What has grown from that moment is a practice defined by intensity, by a deep connection between sound and image, and by the conviction that art is not a job or a hobby but a vital necessity. What follows is a conversation about where that necessity comes from and where it is headed.

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How have your upbringing or cultural heritage influenced the themes and techniques you explore in your art today?

I grew up within a family that shared a deep affinity for music and theater, which planted an early artistic sensitivity in me. From a very young age, I developed a strong interest in graffiti—an urban manifestation that became my first hands-on experience with visual arts and ultimately ignited my passion and curiosity for the world of painting.

Can you identify a specific moment in your life when you realized that art was not just a passion, but your purpose?

It happened during a time when I already considered myself a graffiti artist and felt I had a clear path within that movement. While at a party, I stumbled upon a book on Picasso; seeing the raw power and impact of a masterpiece like Guernica triggered a profound revelation within me. That exact moment led me to make the decision to study art formally and dedicate my life to being an artist.

How do you reignite creativity during those inevitable periods of doubt or stagnation?

During creative blocks, I find refuge in cinema and rap music. For me, rap has a soothing, reflective power: it takes me right back to the days when I first started painting the streets and invites me to look back and appreciate everything I have built as an artist. That reconnection with my roots recharges my energy and gives me the necessary drive to keep creating.

What unusual or unexpected sources of inspiration have deeply influenced your work?

Music is the constant driving force behind my inspiration; genres with a powerful character and deep-rooted identity—such as flamenco, jazz, and traditional Mexican music—spark an immediate passion in me to start painting. In general, world music is a cornerstone of my life, to the point that I collect vinyl records as a way to absorb different cultures and rhythms, which then feed into my visual work.

Do you have rituals or habits that help you enter a creative state of flow?

Yes, I have a very clear daily ritual: as soon as I wake up, I heat water to prepare some mate and put on some rap. Drinking mate while listening to music in the morning puts me in the perfect headspace; it is an ideal transition that feels just like stepping in to train at my own "creative gym."

If you could live anywhere in the world to further inspire your creativity, where would it be?

I would love to settle down and produce my work in places with a vibrant cultural and aesthetic wealth, such as Andalusia in Spain, the various corners of Mexico, or the bohemian atmosphere of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

What are five things you do to overcome creative blocks or feelings of discouragement?

✧To break through stagnation and lift my spirits, I turn to five essential actions:

✧Meeting up for a drink with friends to talk and debate about art.

✧Listening to music and immersing myself in its rhythms.

✧Visiting museums to connect with the work of other creators.

✧Watching films and letting myself be carried away by their visual narratives.

✧Doing physical, manual chores around the house, like cutting firewood with a chainsaw, which helps me completely clear my mind.

What are your long-term aspirations as an artist, both personally and professionally?

On both a professional and personal level, my highest aspiration is to break into the big leagues of the art market and achieve consistent sales of my work. The ultimate purpose of this is to consolidate my international career and reinvest entirely into my own production: securing an endless supply of materials that allows me to paint extensively, experiment without boundaries, and, of course, continue expanding my vinyl record collection.

Are there any future projects or dreams that you are especially excited about?

One of my greatest dreams and future projects that excites me the most is the opportunity to expand my visual language into three dimensions, developing large-scale sculptures designed to inhabit and engage with public spaces.

Can you imagine ever stopping making art? What could lead you to make that decision?

No, that is something I simply cannot conceive. For me, creation is neither a job nor a hobby; it is a vital necessity. I could never leave it behind, because art is the very reason I live.

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Manu Jorquera wants to break into the big leagues, and says so without apology, not for status but for the freedom it would bring: endless materials, boundless experimentation, and the continued expansion of a vinyl record collection that is as much a part of the practice as the canvas. Large-scale sculptures for public spaces are on the horizon, and the energy behind that ambition is the same energy that has driven everything else, a person for whom stopping is simply not a conceivable option. Creation, as Jorquera puts it plainly, is the very reason for being here.