Francisco Borrego, Spain 2021, Art is my oxygen |

# Interview surrounded by the concept: World Excellence #

What is excellence to you?

For me, it is the capacity for regeneration, constant growth and internal evolution that helps, changes and complements a person in his life. I think nobody is perfect. Within our imperfections, we can have moments of excellence. And those moments are what give us energy when life hits us with bad news.

What do you consider a runway to your success, i.e.what helped you take off?

In my case, it was a succession of events that caused me to stop for a moment, listen to myself and decide what to do with my life. Sometimes life whispers to you, other times life screams at you. I was very clear that I wanted to be happy. But my goal was not to be happy. Being happy was a path to my goal. The goal that we should all want: TO LIVE. Art is like a warm hug in a winter month. Art is like a feather pillow in a spa hotel. Art is my oxygen and that is why, when I make a painting, it is the greatest feeling of freedom that a soul can feel. When many things in your life sing in your ear at the same time, you stop, listen, reflect and make decisions. I chose this path because it was what made me happy.

What do you consider growth?

When you are creating, one of the most important things is to let everything flow. Go talking with your painting and that the painting responds to you. For me, a huge growth is being that trip. Every new work I do, I feel more myself. I create a more intimate emotional-rational bond. Communication flows better. And my works have what matters most to me. I consider myself a storyteller. And I try that my work always works like a minstrel. I never limit myself and I like to experiment and selfchallenge. So it can be said that all these things make me feel like I am growing inside.

What do you consider success?

Open your eyes one more day. Hear the laughter of those you love. Learn something every day. Surprise you every day. Being able to work from what you love. That your work means something to someone. Get to be able to live on what you love and by doing so, bring love to those who enjoy your work. Have dreams and make them real.

What do you consider uniqueness?

I believe that everything in this world is unique. Every stone, every forest, every ocean, every human being. We are all unique. Therefore, the universe is a dictionary of information. For this reason, artists develop the power of observation. Sometimes, not always, we manage to catch a glimpse of that uniqueness, between so much noise and everything that surrounds us.

Who are the people and why that you could include in asection called “as done by the best”?

From the human / family point of view I have it clear: my parents. My father and mother have been an essential factor in my development as a person. From their own experience they gave me their example of how to do things. The values and motivations to carry them out. About the rest of the people, I will try to explain it with a metaphor. Life is like a train, and people appear on that train. Sometimes it is a long journey, other times it is two stops. Sometimes the train stops and people get off, more get on, other times, nobody gets off. Every person I have met in my life has influenced who I am today in some way. I have had the immense luck of being able to travel a lot, to see museums, to meet people of all nationalities. “Doing it in the best way” for me, means being consistent with yourself, not selling your dreams, ideals for nothing. I admire a lot of people but I’m not a fan of anyone.

What is your favourite habit that you could in clude in a second called diamond pages?

I like to sketch almost in the dark, with very low music in the background. I like to paint with fresh coffee leaving the smell in the room. I love painting at night, when the city sleeps. I love being on a terrace with my family or friends, talking about everything. Life is made up of little moments.

What is your favourite city and why?

I can’t keep just one, it wouldn’t be fair. My city Madrid, every corner, every stage is part of my identity. Its walks, its museums, its people, its secrets. Cities that I adore I have many. Paris and its alo of history. Florence, its light and culture. Porto and its bohemian spirit.Venice and its magic. Cairo and the immortality of time. It could be like that for days … because every place I’ve been, there is a piece of them in me.

What kind of landscape around the world would you be able to include in a bluegreen world?

Difficult question. It depends on the mood and it depends on the intentionality of the work. It could be an urban landscape with hints of greens on blues and purples. Or it could be a jungle or a beach with mountains in the distance recalling the imnensity of the horizon and the world.

What is your wish for the planet we live in?

I would like people to treat the planet like a sister. You don’t hurt a sister. You don’t pollute her. You help her and she helps you. The planet is not ours. It does not belong to us. We live in it, but we are part of it. My wish would be for everyone to listen more and be more empathetic with everything around them. That would be my wish.