Carlos Tarrats

Carlos Tarrats is a LA based photographer and graphic designer. Tarrats' haunting photographs of domestic flora turn the concept of still life into an introspective meditation. Tarrats' work is well represented throughout the U.S., and his fashion photography and designs for American Apparel grace the pages of countless magazines.

I know that you have a pretty involved process that is very exciting, and I enjoyed the video on your website. Can you tell everyone a little bit about your studio practice?

Well I will assume by studio practice that you mean, how I go about creating an image. It usually starts with an idea or feeling I have. And then I just play off of that. Its a very organic process. Sometimes it's planned out. Other times it's completely spontaneous. Then I will see what I have on hand, and usually that's not much. So I will go out and find objects and plant life that fit my concept. When creating the image, I just build it on set one layer at a time. Really, the hardest part is getting myself in the right frame of mind to create. Of wanting to share; then to tell the story I want to in a way that's not too obvious or abstract. Though seemingly simple, its usually very exhausting.

Your pictures are remnants of 3D fabrications, painted 2D surfaces, staged light, and photographic processes; to what degree to you consider yourself a mixed media artist? I don't at all really. Personally I consider myself a photographer. I am a terrible painter / sculptor / illustrator ect...I use what's available to me in the best way I can. Any perceived skill I show with any artistic medium is really nothing more than me understanding my artistic limits and doing the best I can with my rudimentary skills. No joke. There are children who finger paint more impressively than my ability with a brush. In fact, I don't like to say I am a photographer either. I just take pictures. I document what i see. Whether it's in front of my face, inside my head or a combination of both.

You've stated that at times you feel your pictures have been more about your feelings and perspectives on your subjects, as opposed to the complex constructions that you photograph. You do feel that you still tend to approach your subjects at an introspective level? Yes, very much so. For me it is not about what I am photographing but rather what the objects represent. All major manipulation is done on set. So the only real influence the camera has is in it's click of the shutter. In a weird way it makes me feel more like I am documenting something rather than creating.

There is a trend within your work to range from portraiture to narrative or allegorical. Can you please talk about how these different outcomes tend to take shape. Nice catch. It depends on what I am interested in exploring at the moment and how I am feeling. Usually the more narrative / allegorical work tends to be more autobiographical, where as the more portraiture based stuff tends to be about my fascination with outside influences. But they are all connected with the same underlying themes and perspective.

How do you feel that your fashion photography or your design work informs your studio art?

Well, I am influenced by everything I see. I am always looking at imagery. But for the most part my studio art is pretty separate. My studio art is much more personal. I think of them as journal entries. I can look at a piece and know what I was feeling and thinking at that time. Where as my other creative outputs are more finding solutions to external problems and situations in a way that represents me but is not about me.

What is next?

Not sure. Have some ideas to explore. Expand on some past ones.

You can see more of Carlos' work at www.carlostarrats.com