Author Mayte Gómez Molina, born in Madrid but with Granada roots, has released her first novel, 'La boca llena de trigo', published by Anagrama. The work delves into the profound self-demand that characterizes the art world, a theme that will resonate with many readers, especially those who recall their early drawing contests.
The protagonist, Anna, a painter battling the feeling of never being good enough, mirrors Gómez Molina's own experiences. She too won drawing contests as a child and studied Fine Arts. Although she didn't complete her degree, writing became her natural means of expression, fueled by her reading, the stories she heard, and cinema.
The novel is rich with artistic references, from Jackson Pollock to Artemisia Gentileschi, inviting readers to discover nods throughout its pages. Gómez Molina, who currently lives in Germany and works as a researcher and digital artist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, admits she misses the everyday narrative and surrealism of Andalusia.
"In Andalusia, we have a narrative we can't stop, an incredible surrealism," she comments, contrasting it with the more functional aesthetic she perceives in Germany. She adds that in her homeland, people create and live stories to tell each other, a narrative quality she deeply admires.
The work addresses themes such as feminism, friendship, loneliness, and nonconformity, but the central focus is self-demand taken to the extreme and the fear of facing a blank canvas, evoking the imposter syndrome. Gómez Molina likens this pressure to the logic of fierce capitalism and viewing work as a product.
The author also reflects on the pervasive sexism, even in the art world, citing the case of Hilma Af Klint, a pioneer of abstract art whose works were hidden. Furthermore, the novel includes reflections on everyday topics, from wireless headphones to the glamorization of drugs, and a defense of the work of taxi drivers.
Gómez Molina, who won the Panorama Andaluz award at the Seville Film Festival in 2022 for her documentary 'Como ardilla en el agua', fondly remembers Juan Antonio Bermúdez, a key figure of the festival who believed in her work. The novel, spanning over 200 pages, stands as a significant contribution to contemporary Spanish literature.
