Jéssica Albiach (València, 1979) has been going to drawing classes for a year, learning the technique to be able to paint again, more efficiently. Painting is a catalyst for her inner self, helping her focus, and sometimes shake off stress. But she has decided to start at the beginning, with a simple pencil and paper. She chooses to be photographed in Barcelona, drinking an horchata.
What do you like about drawing?
Until now, more than drawing, I painted. My mother has a framing shop and as a child I liked to accompany her when she had to set up someone's exhibition, go to the studio, look at the work. I grew up in that environment, and I had gone to classes but I painted on my own, without artistic pretense, to find a moment of concentration, of calm, even to let what you have inside come out, which through the filter of rationality does not come out . And this last year I decided that she needed to have technique.
The goal is to paint better.
Yes, but drawing helps me develop patience, humility, because it is difficult for me. I was used to painting bringing out what I have inside, which is what really unloads me, and also helps you get to know yourself. But I needed a technical basis and now I'm drawing in pencil, bareback.
And how about the experience?
I go to an academy, and each one has their rhythm, their level, and their technique. The teacher guides us. It's a paper and a pencil, the most austere, the most difficult and, in my case, even the most ungrateful because it doesn't quite show off. But when you manage to move forward, I recently made a wolf's head, the result is much more satisfying because you see if it's right or not, it's the bare line. But I'm easy to fall into self-demand and I don't want to.
And you have that drawing in a folder, have you put a frame on it...?
No, no, I show it to very few people, I don't want anyone to have the ability to judge this. In fact, I don't finish all the drawings as the teacher would like, but I want to do more to learn that part of the forms, the composition, the proportion, and not so much the pictorial technique. Not being able to dedicate as much time to it as I would like, I don't want a drawing to last two months, I need to try new things. It motivates me more.
And what purposes do you make for the next political course?
It is important for the country to have budgets that are expansive, that respond to the needs of the people. And also that we are capable of reaching agreements with different political forces. We have to continue working so that the dialogue table bears fruit, in dejudicialization and, above all, prioritize the reform of the crime of sedition. The reform of the financing system is also urgently needed so that Catalonia has the resources that correspond to it.
Shouldn't all groups get to work on a proposal for funding?
We proposed creating a study commission in the Parliament and that all the groups that think that a fairer financing system is needed, perhaps Vox is not interested, so that it does not participate...
And if you are interested?
If you are interested, it is a group that is part of Parliament, but the important thing was that the reform proposal was not from a party but from the country. It is positive that the more forces participate, the better. The Valencian Country, a territory that has grievances like we have, has presented its proposal, and the Balearic Islands, and the PP is also working on its proposal, and on the other hand Catalonia sits idly by.
3,700 companies left Catalonia and none of the big ones have returned. What do we do to make them come back?
There was a PP decree that did a lot of damage and the way for many companies to return is to give stability to Catalan politics. If we want Catalonia to do well we have to generate wealth and for this we have to provide stability to the country.
How do you propose to do it?
Having agreements that go beyond the blocks is important, and respect the institutions. Lately we hear about the Parliament more because of the mess than because of the laws or the measures that we approve. We have to work to dignify the work of the institutions. And I would ask the Government to come out of the paralysis, because the only law it has approved is the budget law and they approved it with us. Where is the legislative agenda of the Government, beyond macro projects that obviously fail?
This legislature, PSC, ERC and Junts agreed to renew positions dependent on the Parliament and left them on the sidelines.
Yes, they form the coalition of the ball. It seems to me that there are some who reach agreements to improve people's lives and there are others who reach agreements to distribute the chairs and that in some way they are the same as always, and that is why it is important that we are here, because we have to transform these old dynamics.
In the central government PSOE and UP have had notorious controversies, are they aware that they can pass electoral bill?
Being the minority partner has a cost and electoral wear, but we thought it was important for the country, and after the pandemic and with the crisis it is even more so. Without us in the Government, perhaps we would not have the rise in the minimum wage, or the law of the Minimum Vital Income or the law of the only yes is yes. When we entered the Government we knew what we were going for.
Are you going on vacation?
I'm going to Cazorla, I haven't been there and I feel like a bit of countryside, and I'm also going to Greece, to Corfu for a few days. The plan will be to read, sleep, do some sports, fresh air, beach. In Cazorla, some walk and little else.
Are you one of those who disconnect or are you still aware of social networks?
I disconnect. Absolutely. I'm not a big fan of social networks, I understand them as a work tool and they are useful for many things, but life is much more than social networks and it's okay to leave room for other things.
What readings do you take?
Terres mortes I'm sure of it, and I've been told that A Thousand Splendid Suns is very good.
