Javi Tanke: ‘I deal with human issues’

Javi Tanke has made a name for themselves in Bristol for their bold graphics that often play on the political and cultural iconography of our time, such as a phallic nuclear rocket and a melting Nike symbol.

The multimedia pop artist and designer’s newest exhibition, a major retrospective that spans over ten years of work, will be on display at the Hidden Gallery in the Clifton Arcade.

It focuses primarily on Tanke’s graphic works, which document our times in ways that in Javi’s words “throw notions of freedom of expression into stark contrast against the silencing of peoples”.

Javi describes their work as “sceptical, post-punk and bold” and credits Bristol for enabling their voice to “find a strength of expression which embraces both historical and futuristic materials, skills and cultures, while always grounding the viewer in the real and the present”.

Megatrans by Javi Tanke will be on display at Hidden Gallery – photo: Javi Tanke

Javi has been involved in art since their early teens. They studied sculpture in Madrid and worked at the prestigious Royal Tapestry Factory in Madrid before moving to Hong Kong, where they lived for over a decade, working as a designer, art director and strategist.

They describe their time in the turbulent political landscape of Hong Kong as central to their development as an artist. They have been a speaker for sustainable industrial design in fashion and interior design shows and were singled out by the New York Times as one of Asia’s eco-design pioneers.

Ahead of their latest exhibition, Javi talks to Bristol24/7 about the themes behind their work, Spanish politics and the Bristol art scene.

What kind of issues does your work deal with?

“I deal with human issues. Identity, love, materialism, power… these are big themes, great equalisers. I am just passing by and trying to understand this thing called life, reflect on it, see through the noise and feel empathy. I guess answer these big questions about what it means to be human in the times we live in.”

Power Kim Jong Un by Javi Tanke – photo: Javi Tanke

Is your work intrinsically political?

“Yes, and no. I use a lot of propaganda iconography, it is part of my upbringing in 1980’s socialist Spain, and also of my adult life, of which I spent a good deal of in Hong Kong and China. Propaganda is easy to understand, it is popular art, and works well for conveying meaning and manipulating perceptions.

“As a person, I am political like everyone else, but I try to not use my work as political media. Politicians tell you they are certain about things, me on the other hand, I’m just trying to understand and ask questions. It is true that I deal with political subject matters such as empire, power, gender or class but I do so as a participant not a preacher.

“The viewer might try to put me in a box usually based on what offends them, then I will ask to look again, and think again. I have nothing to say to anyone, but for everyone to question themselves just as I do.”

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How have you selected the work for this exhibit – what kind of themes/ideas run through it?

“This one is a retrospective, it covers mainly pieces from my two latest bodies of work, spanning from 2010 to 2022. The two main subjects are love and power, both of these themes seem to be out of our immediate control, we’re prey to them.

“For this exhibition in particular I have selected these with bolder colours and those that are more relevant to the moment we live in. Woven into them there are explorations of nationalism, east and west divide, gender identity, masculinity or feminism, and also a lot of pop iconography and cultural references that add a second layer of meaning to the subject matters.”

Check out HIDDEN’s Instagram highlight ‘Interviews’ to see the gallery’s interview with Javi Tanke

What do you think of the art scene and political activism in Bristol?

“I think there are a lot of people who are taking action and generally being out there being part of the change. I am proud of this city. There is a great vibe to it and it feels legit. I know very many hard-working artists here with a lot to say, and I simply love that.

“Lots of people from Europe know Bristol for Banksy or Massive Attack, big names like that. I am hoping these people start to see the forest that lies beyond these big trees.”

Javi’s work will be on display at Hidden Gallery from Friday, April 15 and is free to visit.

Main photo: ‘Air Socialist’, Javi Tanke

Read more: Street artists use airplane fuselage as canvas 

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