Meet the Illustrator Finding Feminism in Classical Mythology

A group of female diners slumped elegantly around a table; Salome, nude, poised in a provocative dance move and wearing a ghostly bird mask; a team of armless synchronised swimmers performing a choreographed routine; Laia Arqueros' illustrations, sombre and muted though they are, are utterly enchanting. The Barcelona-based illustrator specialises in illustration, printmaking and ceramics, and her signature folklore-influenced style pervades all three.

“I get my inspiration from theatre and scenography, literature and cinema, ancient art and classic mythology,” she tells AnOther, “and there is a component of religious paganism, too." The classical references are clear: mythological themes crop up left, right and centre in her quiet, moving work – whether it’s in the tiny Roman-looking heads served up on gold tessellated platters, in reference to the beheading of St. John the Baptist at Herodias’ orders, or the silhouette of a boar pawing wildly at a nude girl as she tries to escape. There's a subversive undertone too, however, which marks a powerful move away from mythology. "During the last few years my work has become more and more embedded in my feminist upbringing. I’ve been thinking about concepts such as sisterhood, and spaces of our own.”

The draw of manual practices like printing and working with clay lies in their physicality, she continues. “I find the process in both of them somewhat magical and ritual-like – an ancient and addictive pleasure. I love the surprise factor in printmaking, as your work is always changing, and the final results always have a touch of mystery to them. On the other hand, working with pottery means going back to a primitive material and technique, where your hands are the tool.” Laia’s Instagram makes for a fine outlet for her creative endeavours, fusing mythological themes with moving image techiques, to make for cheeky and utterly compelling results.

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