The creative restlessness of Gabriel Mota

The 20-year-old creative, born and raised in Nilópolis, in the Baixada Fluminense of Rio, is multidisciplinary and, according to him, art has surrounded him since always. Today, his work spans between cinema, photography, creative direction, styling, and painting. Recently, he published his authorial editorial "TERRENO", which unites fashion and sports in one place.

We talked with Gabriel about his references, creative expressions, and a little more about "TERRENO". Check out the conversation with the artist below:

You move between various areas, from painting, photography, and creative direction. Has art always been present in your life? What was your first contact with it, in general?

Even if unconsciously, art was already surrounding me and awakening sensory aspects that always left me with a nagging feeling. I believe my first contact with art was through music; I always devoured it, and it is very present in all my creations.

Do you identify more with a specific artistic expression, or do you like to be creative in any area of your life?

I like to be creative in any area of my life. I've always been an restless and curious guy; this restlessness has been present since I understand myself, and curiosity comes as a great ally.

What are your inspirations for doing what you do? And where do you look for references for each project you carry out?

My inspirations come from my surroundings; I always see my friends as my references, regardless of what each one does. I observe everyone and find inspiration in each of them. I think my references always start from music; my idols inspire me: BK', Anderson Paak, André 3000… They all help me in synthesizing how I want to build a unique atmosphere for others to digest in completely different ways. I like the contrast of things, and being able to unite these contrasts without them getting lost ends up becoming a "little game" for me.

Your last authorial editorial, "TERRENO", represents the four natural elements: fire, earth, water, and air. What was your creative process behind all of this?

I confess that the entire creative process of TERRENO was quite quick; I already had a pre-definition in mind and also knew where to aim, but I wanted to create layers on the same subject. I called my friends; everyone liked the idea, we united and executed it, and everyone enjoyed the result. It was gratifying to work in this way.

"TERRENO" unites fashion and sports in an editorial full of levels. How can this combination in an editorial explore various layers of meaning and visual depth?

This combination of factors and layers on the same subject was intentional. My intention was to be educational while entertaining; I used the artistic bias to achieve this, without fear of making mistakes. Regarding visual depth: I created static scenes, like frames from a movie, causing this sensation of movement, even if frozen. Some photos have references from old sports magazines. In the end, I brought fashion, sports, energy in a metaphorical way, and the natural elements on the same subject. I believe that "TERRENO", despite the speed of the process, was my most solid and consistent work, as it addressed various topics.