Montana LOOKBOOK #08 / 2023

← Rail duty. LAIA hits
the line in simple, elegant
style.
MC
We can imagine that you have been asked many questions
about being a female writer in a male-dominated game.
And possibly having those questions asked by males.
What’s your position on this? What questions do you think
are important that female writers should be asked?
LAIA
Some female writers have inspired
me a lot. It has not been because of
their painting technique, their
letters, or their colors, but by their
strength, their desire, their impetus,
and their trajectory.
It’s strange. Sometimes I think I don’t want to answer
questions about “the woman in graffiti” because in this
way we will never have equality. I want to be treated as if
I am a writer, regardless of whether I am male or female.
My answer has always been something along the lines
of, “to paint you need to use your hands, both women
and men have those”.
But other times I feel it is necessary to explain
to the world the reality of how this works if you are a
female writer and what many women have had to go
through. For example, many people believe that everything
is much easier and that there are more opportunities
if you are female. But mostly, it is the opposite. It is
an extensive issue.
On the other hand, I like to talk about these
kinds of things because they are necessary. But there
are also women writers giving bad examples within the
graffiti community and taking advantage of their female
figures. Something that embarrasses the others that
are trying to be taken seriously without consideration of
gender. I think now is the time to work very hard on this,
for all parties.
MC
Are there any female writers of note that were particularly
inspiring or influential to you?
LAIA
Some female writers have inspired me a lot. It has not
been because of their painting technique, their letters,
or their colors, but by their strength, their desire, their
impetus, and their trajectory. I am more inspired by
people and their personalities than what they paint.
Because sometimes I like what they create, and sometimes
I don’t. But they all inspire me equally.
MC
Your artwork often seems light-hearted, colorful,
spontaneous, and with a feeling of positivity. Is this
an accurate interpretation or do act take it very
seriously with lots of preparation and forethought for
each piece?
LAIA
There is no preparation, it’s freestyle. It is how it comes
out of my head. I like cheerful colors and positive
elements. I live surrounded by them: vintage toys,
comics (Hanna-Barbera, Disney, etc.), and all kinds of
cheerful freaks. So my brain already thinks in this
Black Artist Edition/Interview Laia
23