Costa Ricans are known for being very laid back and to go with the flow (this is where our famous ‘pura vida’ saying comes from). It isn’t always the best approach to life to be too relaxed, but for me, this is how I produce my best work. I let myself flow in the process, disregarding if it’s a ‘good’ idea or not. Sometimes, it just needs to be that way and the outcome doesn’t matter; it’s there for a reason, and only with time and perspective we will be able to understand its meaning. Design is a process, not just the outcome.
Costa Rica is known for its wildlife and beautiful, vibrant nature. I grew up in lush surroundings and that is imprinted in me and my aesthetic as an artist. And one last characteristic that I think is very important is that, as a culture, we are very cheeky. We like to push the boundaries of what is supposed to be, bending the rules to understand the limits. This allows us to be inquisitive and push in different ways to solve problems and allows us to make the ‘unmakable’.
At the same time, people from the UK are very hands-on, problem solvers and productive people. They also have a great craftsmanship heritage, just like the rest of Europe, and this is where I have been welcomed and trained to be able to produce my work using glass-cutting techniques. Also, I have learnt the value of collaborating with talented individuals from different fields to foster new ideas, challenging our perspectives and communicating with people from different backgrounds. In my experience, this is a great way to spark conversations, innovate and challenge the status quo.