Can you introduce yourself for those who might not know you?
My name is Lidia Cao, I’m an illustrator and muralist from Galicia in Spain. I started painting six years ago.
Can you tell us a little bit about the piece you’ve created for the festival, the inspiration behind it and the process?
How do you spell the name of the mountains? Selkirk. It’s an homage to the nature between my hometown and here because it’s so similar with the mountains and trees and all green. It’s an homage to nature with blue herons because I saw that in this area it’s common, this animal, and I liked that because in our culture it means good luck, prosperity in life, and it’s because of that that I chose it. The colour blue, for example, is for the water, and for me it’s a special colour because I always use it, like for the sunset colours, orange and blue, and I love this time because it’s like the magic hour and it’s dreamlike, and I like it.
I love the orange of the skin tones with the blue, it is very sunsetlike.
I like it as well because it’s complimentary colours.
Do you have any advice you would give to emerging muralists?
For me, I started with workshops in a festival. I think it’s a good form to start with because you learn the technique, the conditions, for me that’s the best form to start in.
Where did you do workshops?
In my hometown, because we have a festival too. It’s 18 years old this year.
How was your visit to Nelson? Any favourite spots or memories?
I like it maybe too much, because I don’t have anything to compare it with, because it’s my first time in Canada. But I feel so comfortable because the people are so kind. I was a little scared because one friend of mine lives here, not in Nelson, but in Canada, and was like “be careful because it’s a big country and there are many people, it’s not like Spain” but for me it’s the best here.
Do you have any upcoming projects that you’re excited about that you want to share about?
After this, I have two projects in North Ireland and Ireland in the same dates, and after that I will go for the first time to Kansas to paint. And then I’m hoping another project will be approved in Mexico.
It’s wonderful to have your style showing up all over the world now. Thank you so much!
Interviewer: Gillian Wiley – 2024