Today we visited the intimate atmosphere of photographer Núria Estremera [@nuriaestre] and we asked her about interesting topics around her work and projects.
¡Hello, Núria! Tell us a bit about yourself.
¡Hi, hi! It’s so difficult to introduce oneself… My name is Núria Estremera, I’m 27 years old and I’m from Barcelona. I’ve studied Fine Arts and I work in photography: professionally I work in fashion photography and e-commerce. Also, when I have enough time and energy, I work in artistic projects and I take pictures for love at art.
How did this interest for photography begin?
Unconsciously, when I was a kid I really liked to stare at things and behold them. When I did my first (and last) communion they gave me a digital camera as a gift, that arrived before any mobile phone, so I spend my time taking pictures of everything I had close to me: people, objects, landscapes, even myself… From 12 to now I’ve been keeping this passion for portraying what sorrounds me.
The woman body is a main element in your photography. Why? What do you want to explain through your photography?
I’m a woman and I have my own body, so I’ve lived many situations related with the body that lead me to have a certain relationship with the world. In the beginning, they could seem individual situations, but when I grew up I realized that certain patterns were common between all women in my environment: patterns about insecurities, taboos, stigmas, prejudices… I believe this marked me so much when I was a teenager and I was so angry because I knew it was a general problem, really bad for self-esteem and self-perception, that my goal is to break this established patterns in beauty standards and help women to break free from what oppresses us and alienates us from being natural and authentic.
How has photography evolved throughout your life?
Truth is: it has been changing without me realizing it or doing it consciously. At first I took photos and more photos just to learn, without looking for reasoning, and then I kept the ones that expressed something to me. Over the years I began to be interested in less defined and less figurative pictures, but everything had a dark and surreal aesthetic. Later I focused on the opposite: pastel colors, very bright images. In perspective I’ve been able to see that depending on the personal moment of life in which I was, I prefered to represent things from sadness and nostalgia or from optimism and with a desire for change.The color palette and the way of capturing things represented it.
Could you tell us 3 artistic references that you admire?
I couldn’t keep just 3, so I’m sharing these 5 contemporary photographers: Ashley Armitage, Juno Calypso, Prue Stent, Jess Farran, and Nadia Lee Cohen.
What inspired you to make this self-portrait with Avet?
I wouldn’t say I was inspired by anything in particular. I mentally imagined what would be the setting that I would like to use for Avet’s very delicate and minimalist garments, which I think fit with my style of photography and even with my personality. That’s how I did it, a white, intimate room, with few things but with the necessary and functional ones, as I think the brand’s concept is: comfortable, practical and without being too ostentatious.
Do you think that currently art and social media are linked? And in your own experience?
I think that they are precisely opposites. I would say that they are in a toxic relationship in which they need each other to survive but at the same time they do not benefit each other.
What is your favorite routine?
I'd love to say I have a routine, but I don’t. I am a rather chaotic person and I don’t stand out for having a marked routine. I have to admit that in a way I like my days to be different and adapt to the will or need of each moment.
What do you enjoy most about being with yourself?
I really like being alone so I can play the music really loud and dance and goof around at home: music is always with me.
What is your favorite Avet garment? Why?
My favorite item of clothing is the 3244 panties because they have everything I like: comfort, good sizing and they fit and adapt very well to the body. It’s all I’m looking for.
What aspects do you value when trusting a brand?
Well, I highly value sustainability, the place of production and the conditions in which the garments have been made. Also there must be quality materials that last in time, so I don’t have to be constantly buying. I just think that Avet fits perfectly with these brand values.
A mantra that you need to repeat to yourself from time to time.
"Not everything is so important." It helps me to relativize the problems and conflicts of life and to lower the level of anxiety and self-demand towards things.
I also thank my body for allowing me to get to this day, and try to stop punishing it for its appearance and focusing on the fact that thanks to it I can do things and enjoy them , very necessary for low physical self-esteem days.
