An Exploration
of Self: An Interview with Artist
Christian Restrepo

A first-generation Colombian American, Restrepo's artistic career reflects his journey of self exploration. His family's craft-making, a source of inspiration, caught his attention at a young age. "My grandparents were always making, inventing, and crafting," said Restrepo. "I don't think I understood what art was as a child, outside of what was presented as art in school, like drawing and painting, but I did understand the specialness and sacredness of what my grandparents made or did." Restrepo initially planned on a career in architecture but ultimately found his passion in creating art. His current project, A El Mismo, is a product of his imagination, reflection on his family's journey to the U.S., and in-depth research of his Colombian heritage.

Restrepo began working on A El Mismo after a life-changing trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. "It was my first time being in a Spanish-speaking country since I was four," he explained. "I had a huge revelation and rediscovered parts of my life." Restrepo found his voice and point of view in Oaxaca, leading him to create a project that reimagines a world where pre-Hispanic cultures are thriving in today's world. Restrepo created the fictional Perdida, a "lost city" inspired by an archeological site in Colombia, to accompany his designs. The way of life, craftsmanship, and traditions of the Muisca people, an ancient Colombian tribe, heavily inspire his work. Restrepo honors his heritage and pays tribute to pre-Hispanic patterns and ancestral materials through his designs for A El Mismo.

While A El Mismo is a collection of wearable designs, Restrepo prefers to label himself as “an artist whose medium is textiles” instead of a fashion designer. His creative process is rooted in respect for the past and the desire for each element he uses to have a meaning. "I look at historical artifacts and develop my own visual language by simplifying them into structural lines and motifs," he explained. "The materials I work with dictate how I translate this inspiration. I wanted every color and material to have a purpose." His collection features pieces in shades of black, silver, rust, gold, copper, and green. Each color symbolizes a different aspect of his inspiration—from the dark space of thought to the alloys found in pre-Hispanic metals.

Along with the colors used in A El Mismo, Restrepo's use of staples as signature adornments is a testament to his desire to bind together the past with a modern interpretation. "The use of staples traditionally, in an office, or architecture, is to put two things together, to adhere, to bind, etc.," said Restrepo. "The staples are the vehicle to explore the multitudes of myself through the pieces. [They] act as the binding agent, layering together the ancestral history of Colombia with my family's history and the introspective work I've done on myself." Restrepo uses his staple adornments to accompany the contemporary visual language he's developed for the project.

Restrepo elaborates on his use of staples and explains how he transforms them into something more meaningful. "I think the use of the staples, this mundane, everyday metal object, references and contrasts the relationship the Muisca had with gold," he explained. "To them, gold had no monetary value. What had value was the work they put into the gold—it had a spiritual value. I use this material, and I transform the staples into something more. When you wear or experience one of my pieces, you feel the weight of my time and work. That's the value." When looking at any of Restrepo's designs, it is evident that they are valuable, one-of-a-kind works of art.

With his close attention to detail, the time it takes for Restrepo to complete each piece in A El Mismo varies. "It depends on my motivation on a particular workday, but pieces that require more math, with built-in motifs or alternating staple directions, take more time and accuracy," he explained. "Funny enough, pieces with minimal embellishments take me a little longer because I try to be as precise and clean with the embellishments as mistakes and misalignments are more noticeable when [pieces] are less embellished." Restrepo is now working on adding new pieces to his collection, exploring using different materials and motifs, and mixing colors.

While Restrepo's 30-piece collection for A El Mismo is complete, his passion project and journey of self-exploration continues. In talking about the future of the project and its impact on him, Restrepo said: "I have a much bigger appreciation for my family's story and the journey they went through. I've fallen even more in love with my family and Colombian heritage. I'm excited to see where A El Mismo is going. I hope it takes on a life of its own."

To learn more about A El Mismo and follow Restrepo's artistic journey, visit his website, chrestrepo.com, and his Instagram @ch_restrepo.