As Argentinians; what does the UK creative scene look like from
over there?
Here in Argentina, we mainly look at the creative scene abroad, i
mean, we pay a lot of attention to what happens here and group with
other people or so, but as regards influences and trends, the spot
usually is set on what happens abroad, mainly Europe, especially top
cities like berlin, London or Paris and the USA, not so much but
also to be mentioned japan. The UK creative scene in particular looks
very attractive, I think it has a lot to do with the language (almost
every young people here speaks or understands English, something that
doesn't happen with French or German for example) so it is easier to access
it. I can't think of any particular name right now, because I'm not
much of investigating but I can say that, for me in particular, the music
scene, I mean musical movements as linked with art and specially
with written publications, like zines or flyers are definitively
something from where I get much influence.
 

In the UK there is a huge shift in design / art education due
to government cuts in funding. How does it work in Argentina – are
art courses well funded?

Here art and design educations are not so connected as I think
they are there. Design university is mainly design and that's that. The
most important design university is public and free, of course you
need quite an amount of money to make your assignments, but there is
no fee. The teachers are very good but due to low wages and
government cuts in funding it s not strange that classes are suspended because
of strikes or other demonstrations demanding more funds. doing your
studies in the public university can be quite chaotic so you need to
have your own discipline and strength to stand through all the
disorganization and lack of particular teacher supervision (since it's
a free university, some courses tend to be super-populated) if you
want to succeed in getting your degree (the programme is organized to
be taken in 4 years).
I don’t know so much about art courses, the art degree is also
public and free but depends from another organism, not the
university of Buenos Aires. art courses are divided in several branches.

Last year there was a huge strike in the art university, demanding better
buildings, materials and so. Classes were suspended for almost a
whole semester with students taking the buildings for the whole time
strike lasted. In comparison, design university is in a much better state than
art university, the art university really needs what the students
demanded, buildings are in an awful condition. of course, for both, art and

desining, there are also private universities and courses which vary in

range and quality.

Compared to a European model where the distinction between
'designer', 'art-director' 'illustrator' 'photographer' is becoming
Increasingly blurred as more and more people push themselves in different
directions; how does the Argentinian creative field feel?

I think that’s also happening here a bit. maybe a cause, but
also a consequence of that, is the fact more and more people start doing
 those things but without any studies (formal or academic studies I
 mean). In my opinion, that’s not doing much good here, since many
 youngsters just decide to settle their own productora de TV o
fashion agency and launch works which contain no personal creation or
 innovation, nor anything new, they just imitate foreign magazines,
 copying Photo shoots in almost shameful ways. as mentioned before,
 people here look a lot abroad, which I think is cool, 'cause its
 undeniable that awesome things and stuff comes from first world
 countries, but some people here don't even take the trouble to give
 what they copy their own twist, they just plain imitate, which I
think is lame. but as lame as it is, huge amounts of people find these
super interesting and rad and so it spreads and spreads these
copy/paste trend. I personally have the feeling that real and compromised

designer (or any of the other professions mentioned) would be humble and
conscious enough to consider getting in touch with someone who is
specialised in the other discipline if he needed to do that work.
Not that I'm saying I'im against people doing many different things or

thinking that you have to always take studies, i just think there is a
point where you need to realize there’s people who may know better
and have specially studied the subject more than oneself, even
though one may be very fond or have read two or three articles about it.
on the other hand i think the blurring can result a good thing
since it helps job hunting, you may find yourself suitable for many tasks.

Your zines have got an incredible visual impact; they feel very raw.
Is that materials - or are they deliberately restrictive and lo-Fi?

hahaha... mhmm they are not deliberately restrictive an lo-fi I
think. It’s all a matter of possibilities, we use our materials
and elements to the top of their possibilities. we are just three
people (now only two more or less), so printing runs are small,

'because one person cant assemble thousands of zines, of course we get some
friends' help from time to time, but mainly we do everything by ourselves.
we have a photocopier that s black and white only, so there is another restriction,

we don't do coloured zines. we sew them with a sewing machine one by one, so of

course when you get to number 10 it looks awful and super untidy! haha. Or perhaps
the machine gets broken, so we just leave them without thread, or sew
them by hand. Which I guess makes them look raw raw.
I think all the rawness just comes from the possibilities/restrictions in the confection,

so i cant say its deliberate. But I think its cool to hear that from restrictions comes an
incredible visual impact, that's great I think!
 

Screenprinting has seen an enormous resurgence in the UK over
the last few years; is it a big phenomenon in South America?

Yeah, over here its also quite popular. some years ago i think
few people knew the technique, but nowadays there are plenty of
workshops and courses which teach that. It’s used more and more, for
clothing specially, but also for paper and art.
I think it has a lot to do with the DIY "philosophy". here, the art sector has like many

groups, apart from the distinction between consecrated artists and young aspiring,

between the young artists there's quite a number of DIY followers, so screenprinting

became like a holy weapon for them. I myself think screenprinting is one of the

best things.
 

How do you spend your days?

I spend my days at home mainly, or walking around the city
buying cheap stuff in wholesale or flee markets, hanging out or just
listening to music/tv with friends. sometimes I work with my
computer, but just for myself, I used to do some freelance jobs (I have a
“Sound and Image Design” degree, that's kinda video/film-maker)
but it is very difficult to get along and please a client when you don't
feel like selling anything or speaking someone else's voice, so
that's kinda the reason why I'mim not working at the moment.

What is the dream?

My current dream is to rent a place and settle like a
zine library, where people can go read and browse zines from all over the space
and time, buy some if they want, make their own if the want, a spot
where people just hang around and get in touch with other people who fancy the

same stuff they do and also introduce zines to people who have
no idea about their existence.
 

If you could have a cup of tea with anyone (dead or alive) - who
would it be and why?

Whenever I'm asked about meeting a dead person I always think I'd
like to meet Jesus, tea with Jesus sounds fine I guess.
 

Anything else we should know about you?

I can’t think of anything else right now but I hope I said
something!

Thanks a lot for the interview!

If you would like to see your work here; then do add it to this Flickr group; or upload it to that facebook page or do just pop something in the post. 

All the best
Cure Studio