when he s painted that are we gonna get back to that at some point I think first
back to that at some point I think first
back to that at some point I think first the beginning I am from Cuba and my name
the beginning I am from Cuba and my name
the beginning I am from Cuba and my name is Roberto Martinez and I was born in a
is Roberto Martinez and I was born in a
is Roberto Martinez and I was born in a very small village in the middle of the
very small village in the middle of the
very small village in the middle of the countryside middle of nowhere really
countryside middle of nowhere really
countryside middle of nowhere really that was a tractor driver and so were my
that was a tractor driver and so were my
that was a tractor driver and so were my two older brothers by like hustling or
two older brothers by like hustling or
two older brothers by like hustling or according to plan for me the end up
according to plan for me the end up
according to plan for me the end up being an artist kids we used to you know
being an artist kids we used to you know
being an artist kids we used to you know do what the kids do in that sort of
do what the kids do in that sort of
do what the kids do in that sort of environment play kill little birds we
environment play kill little birds we
environment play kill little birds we used to do hunting riding horses and I
used to do hunting riding horses and I
used to do hunting riding horses and I so many things but one thing I remember
so many things but one thing I remember
so many things but one thing I remember very well is we used to get herself
very well is we used to get herself
very well is we used to get herself inside one of these big tractor tires –
inside one of these big tractor tires –
inside one of these big tractor tires – inside around that hill I’d say
inside around that hill I’d say
inside around that hill I’d say astronauts hadn’t go better training
astronauts hadn’t go better training
astronauts hadn’t go better training than that then after finishing school I
than that then after finishing school I
than that then after finishing school I was about to start working in the local
was about to start working in the local
was about to start working in the local farm first would be a mechanic then I
farm first would be a mechanic then I
farm first would be a mechanic then I would probably end up being a tractor
would probably end up being a tractor
would probably end up being a tractor driver or something related to that when
driver or something related to that when
driver or something related to that when I heard news about our Academy in
I heard news about our Academy in
I heard news about our Academy in somewhere else in a town far away from a
somewhere else in a town far away from a
somewhere else in a town far away from a village you say since I was a kid I
village you say since I was a kid I
village you say since I was a kid I always liked drawing and painting I used
always liked drawing and painting I used
always liked drawing and painting I used to cover most of my notebooks with
to cover most of my notebooks with
to cover most of my notebooks with little drawings of cars or trains I used
little drawings of cars or trains I used
little drawings of cars or trains I used to cross him in my village in front of
to cross him in my village in front of
to cross him in my village in front of my house all the sort of things so
my house all the sort of things so
my house all the sort of things so investigating a little bit more about
investigating a little bit more about
investigating a little bit more about this place I found out that we needed to
this place I found out that we needed to
this place I found out that we needed to do some EDX and entry exams sorry
do some EDX and entry exams sorry
do some EDX and entry exams sorry so I got a role in the our local
so I got a role in the our local
so I got a role in the our local institution which wasn’t that local this
institution which wasn’t that local this
institution which wasn’t that local this was about very much for him and I
was about very much for him and I
was about very much for him and I started preparing myself to do the test
started preparing myself to do the test
started preparing myself to do the test so that was 30 mile trip in my bike
so that was 30 mile trip in my bike
so that was 30 mile trip in my bike because in das sort of day we haven’t
because in das sort of day we haven’t
because in das sort of day we haven’t got public transport there seriously it
got public transport there seriously it
got public transport there seriously it was cycling all the time and three
was cycling all the time and three
was cycling all the time and three months of very hard work getting to know
months of very hard work getting to know
months of very hard work getting to know the basic of drawing painting a little
the basic of drawing painting a little
the basic of drawing painting a little bit of sculpture a tiny bit about art
bit of sculpture a tiny bit about art
bit of sculpture a tiny bit about art and but I did pay off I passed the
and but I did pay off I passed the
and but I did pay off I passed the entrance ramps in the ER Academy and I
entrance ramps in the ER Academy and I
entrance ramps in the ER Academy and I was offered a place this is cool Oscar
was offered a place this is cool Oscar
was offered a place this is cool Oscar Fernandez murderer is
Fernandez murderer is
Fernandez murderer is our Academy in Trinidad in Cuba lovely
our Academy in Trinidad in Cuba lovely
our Academy in Trinidad in Cuba lovely place one of the first village founded
place one of the first village founded
place one of the first village founded by the Spanish thank you in Cuba this is
by the Spanish thank you in Cuba this is
by the Spanish thank you in Cuba this is especially a night under places Marty
especially a night under places Marty
especially a night under places Marty you go cobble Street 300 year old
you go cobble Street 300 year old
you go cobble Street 300 year old buildings is fantastic
buildings is fantastic
buildings is fantastic so in 1996 I find myself in a brand new
so in 1996 I find myself in a brand new
so in 1996 I find myself in a brand new place away from my home our Academy we
place away from my home our Academy we
place away from my home our Academy we used to live eat and sleep in it that
used to live eat and sleep in it that
used to live eat and sleep in it that was a big problem because most of my
was a big problem because most of my
was a big problem because most of my secondary year was painting that similar
secondary year was painting that similar
secondary year was painting that similar environment there were all the too many
environment there were all the too many
environment there were all the too many inches as I said before this one 1993
inches as I said before this one 1993
inches as I said before this one 1993 three years after the collapse of the
three years after the collapse of the
three years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the halls the whole
Soviet Union and the halls the whole
Soviet Union and the halls the whole East Bloc as you remember and things got
East Bloc as you remember and things got
East Bloc as you remember and things got tough in Cuba they go really bad
tough in Cuba they go really bad
tough in Cuba they go really bad economically we had the bases covered in
economically we had the bases covered in
economically we had the bases covered in school which was fine but no lot else
school which was fine but no lot else
school which was fine but no lot else and there were times when I thought hard
and there were times when I thought hard
and there were times when I thought hard enough I maybe just wanted to just go
enough I maybe just wanted to just go
enough I maybe just wanted to just go back feel a bit more safe into my
back feel a bit more safe into my
back feel a bit more safe into my country life he was in he didn’t happen
country life he was in he didn’t happen
country life he was in he didn’t happen either
either
either the second was art it’s a difficult
the second was art it’s a difficult
the second was art it’s a difficult question what art about when you get a
question what art about when you get a
question what art about when you get a 17 year old guy okay and you put an
17 year old guy okay and you put an
17 year old guy okay and you put an environment when you have to now do
environment when you have to now do
environment when you have to now do something with your art you know the
something with your art you know the
something with your art you know the craftsmen you turn just to the drawings
craftsmen you turn just to the drawings
craftsmen you turn just to the drawings you have to do art what is it how do you
you have to do art what is it how do you
you have to do art what is it how do you manage at that age to start telling
manage at that age to start telling
manage at that age to start telling yourself what art is about three months
yourself what art is about three months
yourself what art is about three months into my first years I wanted to quit
into my first years I wanted to quit
into my first years I wanted to quit seriously I just oh I can’t deal with it
seriously I just oh I can’t deal with it
seriously I just oh I can’t deal with it I gonna go back do something with my
I gonna go back do something with my
I gonna go back do something with my life work in the fields whatever
life work in the fields whatever
life work in the fields whatever thankfully my head teacher convinced me
thankfully my head teacher convinced me
thankfully my head teacher convinced me otherwise
otherwise
otherwise and what follow was for years and of
and what follow was for years and of
and what follow was for years and of accelerating learning making friends
accelerating learning making friends
accelerating learning making friends changing my whole life he was a bit like
changing my whole life he was a bit like
changing my whole life he was a bit like the matrix at the red pill or the blue
the matrix at the red pill or the blue
the matrix at the red pill or the blue pill I went for one event and a wish but
pill I went for one event and a wish but
pill I went for one event and a wish but the point is you are really
the point is you are really
the point is you are really life changing experience and I spent
life changing experience and I spent
life changing experience and I spent four years in a really great environment
four years in a really great environment
four years in a really great environment with wonderful teachers we should we say
with wonderful teachers we should we say
with wonderful teachers we should we say the quality of the teaching Cuba she
the quality of the teaching Cuba she
the quality of the teaching Cuba she would never be on the estimated they are
would never be on the estimated they are
would never be on the estimated they are brilliant they managed to channel the
brilliant they managed to channel the
brilliant they managed to channel the leader Italian we had and then trying to
leader Italian we had and then trying to
leader Italian we had and then trying to make us see the war with the different
make us see the war with the different
make us see the war with the different beer you know
beer you know
beer you know they taught us about our history about
they taught us about our history about
they taught us about our history about painting sculpture aesthetics chemistry
painting sculpture aesthetics chemistry
painting sculpture aesthetics chemistry physics you name it it was fantastic
physics you name it it was fantastic
physics you name it it was fantastic they didn’t give up on us although some
they didn’t give up on us although some
they didn’t give up on us although some of us wanted to go wanted to just change
of us wanted to go wanted to just change
of us wanted to go wanted to just change and for that I’m really really grateful
and for that I’m really really grateful
and for that I’m really really grateful in 2004
in 2004
in 2004 I came to England I didn’t just much in
I came to England I didn’t just much in
I came to England I didn’t just much in myself a horse won I come in a plane
myself a horse won I come in a plane
myself a horse won I come in a plane then I find myself in a very different
then I find myself in a very different
then I find myself in a very different environment different language different
environment different language different
environment different language different sense of humor different loads of things
sense of humor different loads of things
sense of humor different loads of things and I just went blank for the next three
and I just went blank for the next three
and I just went blank for the next three years I couldn’t draw I couldn’t paint I
years I couldn’t draw I couldn’t paint I
years I couldn’t draw I couldn’t paint I couldn’t manage to do anything it was
couldn’t manage to do anything it was
couldn’t manage to do anything it was like a I don’t know like a facing a
like a I don’t know like a facing a
like a I don’t know like a facing a white wall and watching paint dry
white wall and watching paint dry
white wall and watching paint dry it’s where I needed this to change
it’s where I needed this to change
it’s where I needed this to change somehow and you know life have a
somehow and you know life have a
somehow and you know life have a tendency of fixing yourself as we say my
tendency of fixing yourself as we say my
tendency of fixing yourself as we say my country and then it happened in 2007 I
country and then it happened in 2007 I
country and then it happened in 2007 I was invited to my first ever Brighton
was invited to my first ever Brighton
was invited to my first ever Brighton Festival I don’t know most of you are
Festival I don’t know most of you are
Festival I don’t know most of you are local you know the Brighton Festival
local you know the Brighton Festival
local you know the Brighton Festival very well in this case all neighbor
very well in this case all neighbor
very well in this case all neighbor managed to organize her we used to do in
managed to organize her we used to do in
managed to organize her we used to do in the block of flour used to live and I
the block of flour used to live and I
the block of flour used to live and I happened that I had to paint and I
happened that I had to paint and I
happened that I had to paint and I brought over from Cuba after well you
brought over from Cuba after well you
brought over from Cuba after well you know just gonna put them on and see what
know just gonna put them on and see what
know just gonna put them on and see what can be worse and I saw them both I
can be worse and I saw them both I
can be worse and I saw them both I couldn’t believe it gonna be interesting
couldn’t believe it gonna be interesting
couldn’t believe it gonna be interesting this little paintings but I saw them
this little paintings but I saw them
this little paintings but I saw them both Wow brilliant and then back to the
both Wow brilliant and then back to the
both Wow brilliant and then back to the day job in those three years had also a
day job in those three years had also a
day job in those three years had also a job working as a cleaner decorator in
job working as a cleaner decorator in
job working as a cleaner decorator in sandwich places you name your project on
sandwich places you name your project on
sandwich places you name your project on that but in the next year after my first
that but in the next year after my first
that but in the next year after my first show I was invited to another hour
show I was invited to another hour
show I was invited to another hour show in again the Brighton Festival by
show in again the Brighton Festival by
show in again the Brighton Festival by one of the lovely kappa who bought one
one of the lovely kappa who bought one
one of the lovely kappa who bought one of my paintings in this case I didn’t
of my paintings in this case I didn’t
of my paintings in this case I didn’t had any painters left so I had to start
had any painters left so I had to start
had any painters left so I had to start creating something but I thought okay
creating something but I thought okay
creating something but I thought okay I’m gonna do something with the stories
I’m gonna do something with the stories
I’m gonna do something with the stories I brought over from my country and a
I brought over from my country and a
I brought over from my country and a little bit of my experience about living
little bit of my experience about living
little bit of my experience about living here so far
here so far
here so far so I created five paintings for this
so I created five paintings for this
so I created five paintings for this show and it was good it was a really
show and it was good it was a really
show and it was good it was a really really good experience we had a good
really good experience we had a good
really good experience we had a good show Hassan sells but more important
show Hassan sells but more important
show Hassan sells but more important that really drove me into try be harder
that really drove me into try be harder
that really drove me into try be harder it kind of ignite the fuse in terms of
it kind of ignite the fuse in terms of
it kind of ignite the fuse in terms of okay let’s do let’s start doing
okay let’s do let’s start doing
okay let’s do let’s start doing something with the sort of work I do and
backs to that which is what I want to
backs to that which is what I want to talk a little bit now because so far
talk a little bit now because so far
talk a little bit now because so far I’ll tell you roughly I mean we haven’t
I’ll tell you roughly I mean we haven’t
I’ll tell you roughly I mean we haven’t got time to tell you all the stories
got time to tell you all the stories
got time to tell you all the stories really but so far I tell you how I go
really but so far I tell you how I go
really but so far I tell you how I go here now easily bit about the creative
here now easily bit about the creative
here now easily bit about the creative process which is I think is quite
process which is I think is quite
process which is I think is quite important when we encounter art in any
important when we encounter art in any
important when we encounter art in any context we see an rtii life story in a
context we see an rtii life story in a
context we see an rtii life story in a way from very early in the human race we
way from very early in the human race we
way from very early in the human race we think back to the caveman we used to
think back to the caveman we used to
think back to the caveman we used to have this kind of guy just picking up a
have this kind of guy just picking up a
have this kind of guy just picking up a piece of shark or and drawing in the
piece of shark or and drawing in the
piece of shark or and drawing in the cave there are we hunting scenes animals
cave there are we hunting scenes animals
cave there are we hunting scenes animals themself everything we try to depict the
themself everything we try to depict the
themself everything we try to depict the wall around us so what are trying to do
wall around us so what are trying to do
wall around us so what are trying to do with my work is similar thing I’ll start
with my work is similar thing I’ll start
with my work is similar thing I’ll start with the image the image is going to be
with the image the image is going to be
with the image the image is going to be the basics of everything that’s going to
the basics of everything that’s going to
the basics of everything that’s going to go on top of it how to be the right one
go on top of it how to be the right one
go on top of it how to be the right one must be related to an idea whatever idea
must be related to an idea whatever idea
must be related to an idea whatever idea half at the moment and then the next
half at the moment and then the next
half at the moment and then the next process is transferring that image two
process is transferring that image two
process is transferring that image two cameras in pencil I had to draw
cameras in pencil I had to draw
cameras in pencil I had to draw everything I need to do with pencil and
everything I need to do with pencil and
everything I need to do with pencil and a night because I find the neurons are a
a night because I find the neurons are a
a night because I find the neurons are a bit more deserted at that time a bit of
bit more deserted at that time a bit of
bit more deserted at that time a bit of room helps but it’s not essential but
room helps but it’s not essential but
room helps but it’s not essential but heavy metal is I find that I’ve pretty
heavy metal is I find that I’ve pretty
heavy metal is I find that I’ve pretty good and death by that but I listened to
good and death by that but I listened to
good and death by that but I listened to lore heavy metal while I’m drawing once
lore heavy metal while I’m drawing once
lore heavy metal while I’m drawing once the main structure is done the next step
the main structure is done the next step
the main structure is done the next step is tough finding the little elements it
is tough finding the little elements it
is tough finding the little elements it can
can
can animals can be mechanical stuff can be a
animals can be mechanical stuff can be a
animals can be mechanical stuff can be a bit of everything that it will help me
bit of everything that it will help me
bit of everything that it will help me to tell you the story because there is
to tell you the story because there is
to tell you the story because there is always a story behind every painting
always a story behind every painting
always a story behind every painting that I do or at least are trying to once
that I do or at least are trying to once
that I do or at least are trying to once their whole drawing is done then we go
their whole drawing is done then we go
their whole drawing is done then we go back to the oil on camp as part of the
back to the oil on camp as part of the
back to the oil on camp as part of the process if the drawing was a bit of a
process if the drawing was a bit of a
process if the drawing was a bit of a you know a relentless array of sleepless
you know a relentless array of sleepless
you know a relentless array of sleepless nights and a bit of alimony Hanover’s
nights and a bit of alimony Hanover’s
nights and a bit of alimony Hanover’s painting is different painting is very
painting is different painting is very
painting is different painting is very joyful is daytime by the way I usually
joyful is daytime by the way I usually
joyful is daytime by the way I usually painted at that time there is no
painted at that time there is no
painted at that time there is no substitute to natural light are trying
substitute to natural light are trying
substitute to natural light are trying to paint it a night sometime it just
to paint it a night sometime it just
to paint it a night sometime it just hasn’t worked I cannot get the colors
hasn’t worked I cannot get the colors
hasn’t worked I cannot get the colors right and then I keep working on that
right and then I keep working on that
right and then I keep working on that picture until I feel that is done until
picture until I feel that is done until
picture until I feel that is done until I think okay this is according to my
I think okay this is according to my
I think okay this is according to my possibilities my skills at the moment
possibilities my skills at the moment
possibilities my skills at the moment there is nothing as I can do to improve
there is nothing as I can do to improve
there is nothing as I can do to improve it and then I can relax have another sip
it and then I can relax have another sip
it and then I can relax have another sip of rum and just chill the process is
of rum and just chill the process is
of rum and just chill the process is quite important for me is not just about
quite important for me is not just about
quite important for me is not just about the final work what I try to say is
the final work what I try to say is
the final work what I try to say is every painting is a story every plane to
every painting is a story every plane to
every painting is a story every plane to have a beginning and he has an end and
have a beginning and he has an end and
have a beginning and he has an end and have a reason that is always a story
have a reason that is always a story
have a reason that is always a story behind everything and they are all
behind everything and they are all
behind everything and they are all related to my own life how I see the
related to my own life how I see the
related to my own life how I see the wall around me and it’s also influenced
wall around me and it’s also influenced
wall around me and it’s also influenced by all this lovely people who have met
by all this lovely people who have met
by all this lovely people who have met all over the years in my travels and
all over the years in my travels and
all over the years in my travels and every of one of them has some traces of
every of one of them has some traces of
every of one of them has some traces of those people and one final thing I want
those people and one final thing I want
those people and one final thing I want to address in this big thing of art is
to address in this big thing of art is
to address in this big thing of art is the public I do believe the artist know
the public I do believe the artist know
the public I do believe the artist know more than just a way of communicating
more than just a way of communicating
more than just a way of communicating between human beings
between human beings
between human beings some people do story some people do
some people do story some people do
some people do story some people do writing oral stories music dance etc
writing oral stories music dance etc
writing oral stories music dance etc some people talk among each other we
some people talk among each other we
some people talk among each other we artists we are the little ones most of
artists we are the little ones most of
artists we are the little ones most of the time we just want to be left in the
the time we just want to be left in the
the time we just want to be left in the corner in a dark room no sorry light
corner in a dark room no sorry light
corner in a dark room no sorry light room working away this is our way of
room working away this is our way of
room working away this is our way of communicating it might be a bit more
communicating it might be a bit more
communicating it might be a bit more than that but for me that’s the basics I
than that but for me that’s the basics I
than that but for me that’s the basics I want to tell you a story I want to tell
want to tell you a story I want to tell
want to tell you a story I want to tell you how
you how
you how see my surrounding how I see the world
see my surrounding how I see the world
see my surrounding how I see the world the illogical logic of his whole how I
the illogical logic of his whole how I
the illogical logic of his whole how I want to create a different kind of an
want to create a different kind of an
want to create a different kind of an landscape in the kind of traditional
landscape in the kind of traditional
landscape in the kind of traditional environment but things that make you
environment but things that make you
environment but things that make you think about who we are how we end up
think about who we are how we end up
think about who we are how we end up here or what are we going so for that is
here or what are we going so for that is
here or what are we going so for that is very important we we need you to finish
very important we we need you to finish
very important we we need you to finish off the circle we need you to interact
off the circle we need you to interact
off the circle we need you to interact with the art so it can become a dialogue
with the art so it can become a dialogue
with the art so it can become a dialogue otherwise will be just a monologue so
otherwise will be just a monologue so
otherwise will be just a monologue so we’re gonna be just talking to yourself
we’re gonna be just talking to yourself
we’re gonna be just talking to yourself really other thing anybody just do a
really other thing anybody just do a
really other thing anybody just do a painting to put in their own room we all
painting to put in their own room we all
painting to put in their own room we all want to put in somewhere when you can
want to put in somewhere when you can
want to put in somewhere when you can interact with that you can learn
interact with that you can learn
interact with that you can learn something from it take something from it
something from it take something from it
something from it take something from it when you go home that’s why some of us
when you go home that’s why some of us
when you go home that’s why some of us have to paint muchas gracias oh by the
have to paint muchas gracias oh by the
have to paint muchas gracias oh by the way I can see Dava tractor thank you
way I can see Dava tractor thank you
way I can see Dava tractor thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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