Spanish artist and photographer Cris Bartual merges the dreamlike essence of science fiction with the intrigue of the supernatural.Her work thrives on unexpected image combinations and accidents, transforming photography into a tool for visualizing the impossible and exploring the depths of her imagination.

 

How did your journey into arts and photography begin, and when?

Since I was little, I’ve had artistic inclinations. Around 6 or 7 years old, I started using my father’s camera, and while experimenting with it, I broke it. My parents bought me another one, and I ended up breaking that one too. I think since then, I’ve always tried to play with photography, playing with error and intuition.

Your work often explores the realms of the supernatural, reality, and fiction. What attracts you to these themes?

I think the origin still lies in how I’ve seen the world since childhood, observing things very closely and imagining a whole universe. I’ve always been drawn to the dreamlike realm of science fiction, and I believe that, unconsciously, I’ve been capturing it in my images. What attracts me most about photography as a tool is its ability to capture things that are impossible or can only be seen within my mind, in imagination.

Speaking of the supernatural, you’ve recently released a new book titled ‘Cinco Elementos / Cinque Elementi’. Could you share insights into the book and its link to the supernatural?

This book has been like a big compilation of images I’ve been creating over the years. The publication is named Cinco Elementos because my way of organizing the photographs in folders has always been by elements of nature: Water Folder, Light Folder, Empty Folder… this way of organizing, which was a bit chaotic in itself, made me look back at all my photographic material and my relationship with nature, and I decided to merge it all.

Your image combinations are always surprising and captivating. Could you tell us a bit about your process of seeking out these unexpected pairings? How do you decide which images complement each other?

In my working process, I let myself go and play through trial and error. I’m interested in combining disparate things that have nothing to do with each other to see the contrasts that arise, both with figures and colours. When it comes to finally combining an image, I have to see that there is a kind of magic in it, something that grabs me and I can’t stop looking at it. 

 

In your opinion, what qualities define a great photograph?

When it comes to what defines a good photograph, I would say it always depends on the eyes of the beholder; I don’t believe there are inherently good or bad images. Personally, what attracts me most to a photograph is the magic and power it has to offer a new perspective on reality. I’d like to take this opportunity to recommend a book, “BUENAS FOTOS: Conversaciones en torno a una cuestión escurridiza” (Good Photos: Conversations around a slippery question), in which I participated in a conversation with photographer Martín Bollati. We engaged in a dialogue around the question, “What is a good photo for you?” and it sparked a very interesting conversation. The book collects other conversations under the same question with other individuals involved in the world of art.

 

What factors influence your decision when it comes to presenting your work in a physical space?

I usually try to adapt to the space and play with the resources found within it. I enjoy experimenting with different materials and arranging photographs alongside objects that also relate to them, such as stones, lenses, and crystals.

”I’ve always been drawn to the dreamlike realm of science fiction, and I believe that, unconsciously, I’ve been capturing it in my images. What attracts me most about photography as a tool is its ability to capture things that are impossible or can only be seen within my mind, in imagination.”

 

Could you share the backstory of ‘FANTASÍAS,’ the project you collaborated on with Jorge Alamar?

“Fantasías” is a very fun project, like everything I usually work on with Jorge Alamar. This project came about because both Jorge and I inherited from our mothers an interest in the unknown and esoteric world; it’s a topic of conversation that we frequently have. One day I mentioned to him that my mother had a large collection of magazines about the paranormal world at home, which I’ve always flipped through since I was a child. When I showed him all this material, we immediately saw the possibility of creating a publication, and “Fantasías” was born.

 

Collaborations seem to be an important aspect of your work. Can you talk about any collaborations that have significantly impacted your artistic development?

I think all the collaborations I’ve been involved in have brought me many things, and on many occasions, I’ve worked with people I didn’t know, which has been very enriching. But if I had to choose one collaboration, I would say the one I did with Miquel Ponce (painter) titled “The Nature of Things.” It was very interesting to work with him; in the project we both proposed, we stepped a bit out of our comfort zones and tried to merge painting, photography, and installation. Soon, the project will take shape again in another exhibition space, and I’m eager to be able to showcase it.

 

You also collaborated with Sprout-Publish Founder Dora Lionstone. Could you share some insight into the project you collaborated on together?

I met Dora Lionstone thanks to Jorge Alamar. He and Marta Martín Núñez were designing a project for the Imaginaria Festival in Castellón, and upon discovering Dora’s work and mine, they found both a visual and conceptual connection. They proposed that we exhibit together under the theme “The Promise,” and it was incredible to collaborate with her. We were mutually surprised by how different our creative processes were, yet at the same time, how we worked on similar ideas and achieved results with great similarities. In the exhibition, there were no labels with our names; the artworks were intertwined, and it wasn’t clear whose was whose—it was a beautiful game.

 

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