Instrumental

In keeping with our mission to support and inspire creativity, we ask the artists we collaborate with to offer insight into their work, a look behind the scenes, and the opportunity for our readers to learn more about the process. For our latest fashion feature, photographer Gabriel Gomez answers our questions.
---
What are some themes that you are frequently drawn to in your work?
Lately, I think a lot of my work revolves around human behavior, everyday habits, introspection, and maybe a bit of romanticism in the way I approach these things. There’s a certain melancholy that tends to linger throughout my narratives, something that doesn’t necessarily change but rather evolves within its own spectrum.

I wouldn’t say I’m drawn to one particular theme, but I do find myself really attracted to passionate performances and the idea of documenting a character who is, in a way, playing another character.

How do you typically find inspiration for your work?
Maybe it’s a bit of a cliché answer, but I’ve realized that music is a key anchor for me. Somehow, it puts me in a state of mind where I feel completely in tune with where I need to be creatively, imagining the situations described in the lyrics or simply getting lost in the melody itself.

Sometimes I catch myself zoning out during meetings because an idea suddenly pops into my head. Luckily, I usually manage to explore it before I even realize I’ve zoned out or someone points it out. Those little moments of reflection are often what end up inspiring me the most. Sometimes, it’s just about developing a simple phrase that I feel holds so much complexity. In just a few words, it can become an entire stream of consciousness.

Do you have any surprising essentials on set?
A little troll plushie, a couple of tiny ceramic figurines I won back in January from a puff pastry cake, and more recently, a fabric bracelet featuring the Virgen del Pilar that a friend gave me. I’m not particularly religious, but I believe in my friend, and I feel like there must have been a reason she gave it to me. So I keep it with me.

Is there anything you’re experimenting with or hoping to explore in your future work?
Looking back through my old archives, I’ve realized that I have a recurring interest in connecting objects with people. A big part of my visual language revolves around exploring the relationship between identity, space, and materiality. I have a feeling this thread will stay with me for a while longer.

What I’m open to, though, is seeing how the æsthetic evolves as I encounter new influences. Maybe the work will become more sculptural or even incorporate more movement.

I’d definitely love to take the project into something more tangible, so I’ve been exploring how to create a physical installation that could turn the work into an experience in itself. We’ll see where it goes.