You’re sure to have seen Coco Capitán’s handwritten abstract prose at one point or another.
Whether it’s gracing a billboard campaign, printed on a Gucci t-shirt or etched on the side of a Charles & Keith loafer, at just 31 years old, the Spanish-born artist’s font has been used by some of the most prestigious brands in the industry.
Her influence doesn’t stop there. She’s worked with the likes of Dior, Nike and Cos, and has been published in reputable publications like The New York Times Magazine, Vogue and M The Monde.
A multidisciplinary, not only is she a talented writer, she’s also an accomplished photographer - having achieved an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art, a gifted painter - using the medium regularly in her own exhibitions, and adept at directing videos and building installations.
There’s a certain nostalgia that runs through her work. It could be an image that reminds you of your teenage years or a melancholic aphorism that makes you think of the past, either way, it feels at once contemplative and freeing.
So, we caught up with her to discuss the launch of her latest collab with Italian fashion retailer Yoox and find out a few of her favourite things.
How did the collaboration come about between you and Yoox?
I’ve wanted to create a collection that’s inspired by my love for sailing and the sea for a long time. I was already developing these ideas on a more conceptual level, thinking of setting up my own line of merchandise as part of my art. Then, Yoox came up with a proposal of collaborating together and they wanted to produce these collections, market them and introduce them to the world. I’ve always been a big fan of the sea - I love sailing and classic boats. These projects gave me an opportunity to explore that world in a different way, instead of through fine art. It’s been great producing pieces that people can wear and use at home and I love how they are tied together with the same themes that I’ve been working on for such a long time.
What’s your favourite piece from the collection?
That’s a hard question. It’s probably the ties because they’ve been designed in a way that makes it look like you’re wearing two rather than one. I love small interesting details like that. I also love the fisherman jumper. These two are my favourites.
How do you ensure sustainability in your work?
That was the key element of collaborating with Yoox, because it’s also one of their main goals. It’s a very limited edition collection, not because we wanted to make it exclusive, but we just wanted to restrict ourselves to what was actually possible to produce with the deadstock textiles. I think there’s a beautiful narrative behind that.
You don’t need to mass produce and not everything needs to be immediately available. You just do what you can do with what you have - and that’s my motto for many things in life.
Are you planning any exhibitions at the moment?
I’m planning several exhibitions. The most imminent one is a show in Kyoto in April, at the festival called Kyotographie. I was living in Japan for two months last year, working on a new series of photographs with teenagers based there. Then I will have another that’s linked with with my writing and my text work.
Which artists do you find most inspiring?
I get inspiration from lots of different sources. Lately I’m really inspired by Artificial Intelligence and 3D rendering work. My partner is Charlotte Taylor, who imagines completely different worlds and makes it digital reality. I find it really inspiring.
There are lots of very established artists who really inspire me - for example, Francis Bacon is one of my favourite painters.
Do you have a favourite piece that you’ve ever done yourself?
I don’t tend to fall in love with my own work. For me, the exciting part is creating the pieces, then I move on very quickly and start thinking about what I can do next.
Once something is created, I don’t feel too precious about it. I like things to have a life of their own. if a collector buys a piece, I love to see it evolve wherever they place it. Same thing with this collection. I’m very curious to see how people will style it, or what it’s going to mean for them.
What are you reading at the moment and what’s your favourite book?
I have many favourite books and I think it’s my main source of inspiration. One of my favourites is Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. It’s a very beautiful book by the same author as The Virgin Suicides.
I’ve spent a lot of time late lately reading about sailing - I’m pretty obsessed. I’m reading about the history of navigation from the privateers’ perspective, who were basically legallised British pirates in the 17th Century. I love imagining how much they made possible through the sea 300 years ago. I just find it so far and so remote - it’s super relaxing for me to get immersed into that word.
Where do you find inspiration?
I’m way more inspired by history than the future. I always say that the future is for later, and it will come and will find me. Instead, I try to stay in the present moment and reflect on the past.
Do you like to journal?
I journal every day. Most of my quotes exist in my journal before they become a piece of art. Some of them are very abstract so you don’t really know what they are referring to. In most cases, it’s my own way of reflection.
If I’m in a moment in my life where I’m feeling confused, maybe I’ll write a prose poem about me lost in the supermarket, trying to find something. That will be from an actual experience, but there’s something deeper to it. There’s always something happening in my life on a more personal level that brings me to the moment.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on a couple of books in addition to these two exhibitions, and then I have worked for different clients, mostly in the luxury and fashion world, sometimes directing, other times photographing. There is a lot coming up.
