Ricardo de Oliveira x SOE

Based on the original artwork Moon Light and a representation of a 'tile-like' technique developed to encapsulate the experience of travel, particularly time spent in Costa Rica, Ricardo de Oliveira x State of Escape is the fourth volume in our artist series - a limited edition capsule approach to collaborations with creatives around the globe. Our Creative Director Brigitte MacGowan caught up with Ricardo in studio in New York to discuss his influences and inspiration.  

Brigitte: And this one? Is this one of the pieces you've done in the last couple of weeks during your residency at Kino Saito?

Ricardo: Yes, this is what I have been working on during my residency. I'm always drawn to the ocean so these urban landscapes are new for me. I have never explored these areas of the Hudson river. I'm going to use those palettes of greens and earth tones. I'm sort of trying to tap into this landscape. I am always inspired by the landscape and climate I am seeing.

* Ricardo brings out a series of drawings called ‘blossoms’ and places on floor *

I started a series on my trip to Costa Rica called blossoms. I didn’t intend for this to be the vibe but when I was there a lot of the plants were in bloom.

Brigitte: Whereabouts in Costa Rica were you?

Ricardo: I was in Nosara. I go there every year to surf.

Brigitte: So you start with these smaller sketches and then scale the tiles up into paintings?

Ricardo: Not all of these turn into paintings but they do pave the path for larger pieces and are there to inspire. I draw a lot. I mean, I have thousands of drawings, I have boxes of them.

Brigitte: I guess the reason it sort of triggered me was because I saw the first blossoms driving through the city today. I was like, yes! Finally spring!

Ricardo: I live next to Prospect Park, in Brooklyn. So this time right now, it is full of pink blossoms. It’s so pretty. And actually, to me, it's interesting. I, I always lived in big cities. I'm super urban. Yeah. I'm an urban surfer.

Before I arrived in New York City, uh, I, I felt comfortable immediately, I felt at home because of my previous experience living in the city. My intimacy with the city. I stopped surfing for a while, of course, and I was interested in, you know the urban landscape instead.

Surfing never leaves you though, it's a lifestyle. It doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing. You can always pick it up from any location. It's a state of mind. I'm so blessed that I started surfing when I was 13 years old.

For the first year and a half that I lived in New York I got a job at graphic designer's office that did all the subway and bus maps of New York city. A new way to explore and study the city and it’s landscapes.

Brigitte: It sounds like the connection between art and travel in your works is very strong. in terms of all of the places you've been, stylistically in your work there's this wonderful link between everything you do.

Ricardo: I constantly have the travel bug. I can't sit still. you're constantly curious about living in different places and spaces. In fact, I actually hate doing tourism. Everywhere I travel to, I actually spend time. And I sort of, you know, learn the culture, stay with the culture for a while and then runaway. Make sure you have a full immersive experience. I like to ‘surf’ skateboard around as a way of immersing myself.