guide Lines

RUBEN TOLEDO, the illustrator behind Louis Vuitton’s City Guides, shares his inspiration, individuality and impressions of Hong Kong

RUBEN TOLEDO IS hardly a household name – then again, few illustrators are. But the Cuban American artist’s surreal drawings have undoubtedly crossed your line of vision, whether in publications such as The New Yorker, Vogue and Interview, in ad campaigns or mannequin designs for Barneys, in exhibitions at venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, or more recently and closer to home here, in the annual Louis Vuitton City Guides on which Toledo has been working for more than a decade. The brand has even released a box set of postcards documenting 100 handpicked images he drew for various cities.

Uniquely, Toledo is as known for his work as he is for his marriage, a rare collaborative relationship with fashion designer Isabel Toledo, who designed the dress worn by Michelle Obama to her husband’s inauguration. They met at age 13 in Spanish class in New Jersey and – states Ruben – it was love at first sight. The trite transience of teenage romance hasn’t quite applied to them, blossoming into an alliance that influences their work bilaterally.

Although they work in different media, there are idiosyncrasies that tie them together, a conscientious strangeness that permeates their canvasses in deeply personal ways. It’s both a surprise and not that, almost four decades since their meeting, the dapper artist still considers his wife the ultimate muse – and while viewing his work with no knowledge of this is a pleasure, spotting their mutual impact makes the experience like reading a love story, wrought in ink and fabric.

How did your work for the LV City Guides come about?
I’ve been collaborating with Louis Vuitton on many different projects for over 10 years now, especially the city guides. I like to think I’m part of the Vuitton creative family after all this time.

When did you come to Hong Kong and Macau to get inspiration for these illustrations?
I was only there once last year on my way to another place for another project. It was too short a time, but long enough to know I want to return and will look for any excuse to be there again, for work or for pleasure. This part of the world is so exotic to me, such a fantasy destination – the light and the air are so special that it has stayed with me. Isabel and I adore the outdoors and are always impressed with places that know how to keep this balance.

How often do you travel for work?
I’m always travelling for work, since art and fashion are a global affair these days.

How do you look at the relationship between art and luxury?
For some, art is a luxury and for some a necessity. Art can be the ultimate luxury in a sense, or at least provoke a feeling of luxury because of the pleasure it can cause in the spectator. For me art is a necessity, the need to make art is primary. It’s how I communicate with others.

My need for art is so strong that I see the world in terms of artistic expressions and impressions. To be able to live my life like this is a blessing, because I’m constantly surrounded by art. In that sense, I’m surrounded by the luxury of art. True luxury always holds a place of honour for art, artists and the artistic expression of fine craftsmanship.

What do you do in your leisure time?
I love to stay home for my leisure. There’s really no place like home for me, which is right in the middle of New York City. I like to relax outdoors – I like to fall asleep and take a nap under a tree in a park in any city I may be found in. Sleeping outdoors is a really luxurious pleasure for me. Because I love what I do, I tend to work all the time, so I find it very easy to just drop and relax whenever I have the opportunity, anytime, anywhere that feels delicious.

What projects are you working on now?
Isabel and I are planning a large-scale retrospective that will feature 30 years of her fashion work and 30 years of my drawings, paintings, sculptures and even my cartoon works. It will be a large exhibition and will open at the end of 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida at the Freedom Tower museum. This is a very significant space for us because this museum was the place where we – and all Cuban immigrants – first entered the United States. It’s a landmark of another kind of travel for us.

What inspires your work?
My wife and her design work, my friends, New York City street life, travel and places, but most of all people themselves. I’m most inspired by humanity in all its diversity and beautiful chaos.

Have specific artists influenced your work?
I think I am, like most artists, too involved in my own thoughts and work to absorb someone else’s. The artists I have had close personal contacts with are the ones that I’m sure have had an effect on my thinking. My wife Isabel Toledo is first, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Twyla Tharp, Ruven Afanador and Pedro Almodovar are just a few that we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by.

What are your working habits and needs?
I’m very simple, I need a great place to work with plenty of natural light – a peaceful and joyous environment helps. If I need inspiration, I must have a great soundtrack of mind-altering music. This could be Afro- Cuban, jazz, disco or house, techno or classical, but whichever it is it must be inspired. Since I am Cuban, I also like great espresso – they say coffee runs through our veins.

Are you a morning person or a night person?
Both. I love to wake up earlier than anyone and get to work before the day starts rolling. I also love to work way into the night, when most have fallen asleep, there’s a magic energy at that time that helps creativity to flow.

What are your paper, ink and tool requirements?
I love papers of all descriptions. Isabel orders all my art supplies – she makes sure I have plenty of deliciously made brushes from Japan and France, papers from Italy, France and India, and plenty of pure-black India ink and water colours galore, oil paints and canvas – and, of course, my favourite pencils. I love to draw more than anything.

What’s your workspace like and what are your feelings towards it?
I love my workspace. It’s an extension of my brain. I think your workspace is always a reflection of your mind. Mine is chaotic, full of energy and the things I love. I work in a hundred-year-old attic on the top of a skinny and tall building with the most magnificent view of the Empire State Building. You really know you’re in New York City when you’re here.

Who are your muses – and why?
Isabel inspires my work constantly. Her creative bravery, exploration, and very open point of view constantly refresh my soul. Her sense of poetic pragmatism is a constant source of inspiration.

Have drawing and painting always been your first loves?
Yes, absolutely. My mother says I could draw before I could talk.

What’s the appeal of drawing in this age of digital photography?
For me, the time to look and to try and understand the outside world and to communicate that understanding through drawing and painting is the essence or art and creativity. I do love modern technology as a tool, but the basic primitiveness of drawing is still the most satisfying to me personally.

How do you keep motivated to continue doing your work?
Stay in love with your romantic partner, and you will always be in love with your entire life.

What would be your advice to aspiring illustrators?
Draw, draw, draw like crazy, keep your individuality, stay sincere and tell the truth. Everything will be OK.