59 MADRID ¡ BIENVENIDO!
The jet-set artist lives on two continents, often designing at high altitude. In Europe, Luis Urcolo settles into his Madrid home, a melting pot of styles: ÇA sort of warehouse of the worldÈ
His head is in the clouds and a pencil in his hand. Luis Urculo is on a flight from Mexico City to Madrid, an 11-hour flight that stretches to 16 hours with a layover in Bogotá. He ponders, observes and draws. The pencil strokes are bold, black and high flying. The flight arrives on time at Adolfo Suárez Airport, the primary European airport serving Latin America. He hops in a taxi for a final, 12 kilometre trip. «I travel frequently since I live and work in both Madrid and Mexico City». Urculo sports a hipster beard, nerd glasses and a baseball cap. At first sight, you’d think he was an American indie film director, not a Spanish artist. He lives in the heart of the capital on the top floor of a stark white palace immersed in lush, green surroundings. «The US Embassy once owned the home», Urculo explained. «Diplomats stayed here». If only the walls could talk. It’s a White House - inside and out - that has become a cultural and stylistic melting pot. Mexican dolls meet Moroccan kilims, the elaborate tapestry-woven carpets. Handcrafted objects blend with industrial design. Colourful cushions share space with toy guns, made for Urculo by his grandfather when he was little. «My apartment is a sort of warehouse of the world. Everything that I find and buy in various countries ends up here», he said. In his living room, Yoko Ono singing «Kiss, Kiss, Kiss» wafts from the stereo. «Double Fantasy» is on the turntable, the album that marked John Lennon’s return to the scene after five years of silence and the last album that he recorded. Here and there - between the majolica pottery, plants and herringbone parquet floors - another important 20th century couple makes its presence known: Charles and Ray Eames, the organic design pioneers. Plus paintings, sculptures, old photos. It’s an ever-growing collection of objects, stories and memories alongside Urculo’s striking, black graphics on the walls. «When I renovated the apartment, my intention wasn’t just to fill it with art and souvenirs. I thought about my friends. I wanted to create a bright, cheerful space for parties and brunches», he explained while sipping an iced tea. A and Luis Urculo is the fun and friendly designer who plays with fonts, symbols and videos. In Madrid, his artistic scribbles adorn the walls of Ramses, the Philippe Starck-designed restaurant. He’s scaled the ivory tower to become the director along with Jaime Hayón of the Istituto Europeo di Design’s Master of European Design Labs. Urculo has even stepped behind the camera to create a short film about the first Italian work of Swiss starchitect Bernard Tschumi, the ANIMA Cultural Center still being built in Grottammare, a city along the Adriatic Sea. «I have a bachelor’s degree in architecture. I am often trying to manipulate and translate architecture into other shapes and scales. It’s the jumping-off point for my work», he explained. Shapes and proportions are played with constantly. He’s recreated miniature versions of famous buildings using books and even plates and glasses. These fantastic geometrical works have been widely exhibited. World travellers, just like him. From Rome’s MAXXI to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, from the architecture biennials in Venice and Medellin, and now they’re on display (until the end of July) at Valencia’s Espai Tactel Gallery. «But Mexico is Mexico. The sensations, passions, smiles ... there you truly live». No problem if the flight is never-ending and jet lag drags you down. Urculo ponders, observes and draws, even high in the sky. His head is in the clouds and a pencil in his hand
dise–ador, ÁBienvenido a Madrid! compa–ero