Interview of Gomez Kolber by Freya Bennett // Life is short, so do whatever you want to do, work hard and just go for it. Always be open to learn from others.
Interview of Gomez Kolber by Freya Bennett
Hey Joy, How are you?
Hi Freya! I’m great!
Where do you call home?
Since I’ve moved to Buenos Aires, from my hometown in La Pampa, almost 10 years ago, it’s now difficult to me to say where I feel more at home, it’s like both places feel like home to me and I love it. But my safe place is my room which is also my “office”, that’s home to me right now.
Tell us a bit about you:
I was born 28 years ago in a small city called Santa Rosa, in La Pampa, right in the center of Argentina, but now I’m based in Buenos Aires, where I came to study advertising, and never left. I spend my days working at an advertising and design studio as a creative and graphic designer to pay the bills, and in a personal illustration+screenprinting project. I’m a big sister and my siblings are the most important people in the whole world to me. I try to be the best human being I can, I try to understand other people’s world and learn from them. I also like to live simply, enjoying the moment and trying to be thankful for every opportunity I get. My perfect plan is to have a good meal with friends, any day of the week listen to music and talk till we fall asleep. And I can’t wait to move to a house so I can have a dog. That sums up all that I am right now.
What is something you are passionate about?
I love illustration, I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go before achieving my goals (like illustrating a book, or being able to pay my bills just with my illustrations) but I’m working on it as much as I can. Drawing makes me really happy, even more when I find out other people also like it and enjoy what I do.
Why is feminism important to you?
It’s very important to me, and it should be important to everybody. As human beings, we all need to understand that, apart from our genres, we all deserve the same possibilities in every aspect of life. I believe in equality and I respect every man and woman on Earth, I want all of us to be the best we can be.
In our societies, women have always been treated as if we were less than men, and that’s not true, and some of us believed it and that’s terrible! We have always been powerful, and feminism is our tool to get that power back. I’m glad these days #GirlPower is something a lot of people are talking about. I see a lot of girls and women feeling and showing self love and I think that’s the first step. If we all feel that security and that power we can get anywhere! So let’s keep empowering other girls and be a big team of sisters around the world!
What do you love about where you live?
Buenos Aires is a big city with everything you need, and more. I love that there’s all kinds of people doing all kinds of different things! I could never get bored here, because every day there is something to do; music shows, art events, parties and lovely bars where you can go during the week to have a drink and listen to good music. I feel lucky to live here.
What do you love about being a woman?
I remember being a little girl and telling my mom that I hated being a girl, that I wanted to be a boy, because they had it easier. That was my first punk rock attitude, I think. I was a little rebel during those years (and sometimes I still am). I didn’t like what adults expected from me, like “don’t climb trees”, “close your legs when you sit”, “don’t say that words, you’re a girl”. Luckily for me, my parents always told me not to listen these kinds of things, and to do whatever I want as long as I’m happy and do not harm others (so I climbed a lot of trees). So, with the years I learnt to love being a woman, because I could separate what some people tried to teach me what a woman is supposed to be, from what I really know a woman is, because I am one! I’m still learning to love my body, to feel good about myself is an everyday exercise. I feel powerful and not alone anymore. I love that about women, no matter what, we can do anything.⚡
What do you wish you could tell your 15-year- old self?
I was a mess at 15 years old. My teenage years weren’t easy. I felt alone during those years, even though I never was. I would tell my 15 year old self to keep going, to trust more cause the world is not as ugly as you see it right now, and focus on what really makes you happy (like drawing, making collages out of old magazines and being alone in my room listening to Blink 182 for hours). Also, to try to be more lovely to your family, they won’t be here forever and neither will you because you’re moving to the big city in a few years, and you’re gonna miss them like crazy.
What are five things that fascinate you?
MUSIC. Almost all kinds of it. I’m bad at it, I could never learn to play guitar, or any instrument, I just sing to myself, so I admire people who make music and I‘m thankful for them. I couldn’t live without music!
ILLUSTRATION AND CARTOONS. First thing I do in the morning is to scroll Instagram to see all the new drawings of the artists I follow. Then coffee. And I’m ready and inspired to start the day.
MOVIES. I love stories, and the different ways to tell them. I enjoy the story but also can’t help paying attention to the art direction; all the details like photography, costume design, and soundtrack fitting perfectly together. Party for my senses.
HUMANS (AND ALIENS). The fact that every person is a tiny universe inside The Universe. The way everyone has a story to tell, and the possibility to learn from others through sharing.
FOOD. Yes, I love food. Gimme a slice of pizza and you already have my heart. As simple as that.
Where do you go to relax?
To my room to draw or just listen to music and lay in bed. I used to do that in my bath, even with bubbles and a glass of wine, but sadly, my current apartment doesn’t have one.
What is your secret pleasure?
This one is difficult. All I can think about is musical “guilty pleasures”, like 2 BECOME 1 by the Spice Girls (I LOVE that song and I listen to it 2 or 3 times a week). I’m also obsessed with “Si no te conociera”, the spanish version of “If I never knew you” from the Pocahontas soundtrack. (Yes, you can laugh now but then listen to it, isn’t it great? ) No more secrets!
If you go the chance to fly to the moon, would you go?
I’m not sure. I would feel curious, of course, but I would also be afraid that something would go wrong and I wouldn’t be able to come back to Earth.
What advice do you have for teens wanting to pursue art?
My advice is to just go for it. If you love art, no matter what kind of art, go and make it, with all your heart. ‘Cause if it makes you happy, and you work hard for it, being nice to people and being honest about your work, everything will be fine and you will find a way. Life is short, so do whatever you want to do, work hard and just go for it. Always be open to learn from others. At least, that’s what I’m trying to do. Sooner or later opportunities show up when you’re working on it. ❤
