Before we begin, a bit of Me, myself and I

A brief intro to me and my mind.

Let's begin at the very start.

Self-Portrait. 2017

I want to provide some context about myself and my origins. While I'll keep this brief, it's essential to understand my background to grasp the essence of ‘Rebel Strokes’.

Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1980, I belong neither to the millennial generation nor to Generation X. I'm part of the Xennials—a generation raised during the advent of personal computers, yet still familiar with tapes, records, Walkmans, and the like (Xennials).

I come from a working-class background in Madrid, where my family was fractured by divorce. My parents split when I was six, leading my father into a decade-long self-destructive spiral, culminating in his lonely death in our living room. He was a troubled alcoholic, drug addict man, often brutally violent with my brother and me.

Subsequently, my mother chose to leave us to start anew. Our relationship paused for 16 years until a brief reunion. Her explanations for her absence, however, felt superficial and disconnected from my reality, leading me to cease contact with her again.

And so, I was raised by my paternal grandparents and my father.

From my father, I got traumatised, beaten and humiliated. Yet, from his harshness and mistakes, I learned what not to become.

My grandfather, a man embittered by a life that began working at seven and marked by the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, never completed primary education. He learned basic skills while working as an apprentice in a printing company. I guessed he loved me in his own way, although he never said that.

My grandmother, in contrast, was a beacon of love and care. She introduced me to art, cinema, and literature, taking me to museums and galleries and exposing me to films like "Philadelphia,", “Ben-Hur”, “Casablanca” and many more which my grandfather disdained. Her devout Catholicism was a point of contention when I declared my lack of faith at eleven, despite being educated in Catholic schools.

Over time, the more I explored art and design through museums, galleries, and communities, the more I realized its potential to both highlight our differences and unite us, but also to address pain and trauma.

I left my home when I was 17, soon after my grandma passed away.

At 23, I left Spain, propelled by a job offer and the desire to escape a country mired in negative memories and bleak prospects; arriving in Dublin, Ireland, with no English skills, no career path, and carrying childhood traumas, I sought a fresh start.

Since leaving Spain in 2004, I've travelled to seventeen countries and lived in four, each experience enriching my understanding of humanity through exposure to new cultures, foods, arts, and people.

In Dublin, I discovered a passion for photography, a craft I still cherish. My nine years there, split between 2004-2010 and 2013-2016, were a period of hard work and self-discovery, void of a specific goal but rich in learning and personal growth. I honed my ability to deliver quality work quickly, thrive in diverse cultural settings, and step out of my comfort zone.

During this time, I also lived in Lisbon, Portugal, for three years. Lisbon's blend of culture, history, and charm further fueled my photography and creativity, enhancing my appreciation for the arts.

As mentioned, in 2013 I moved back to Dublin, Ireland, where I met the love of my life.

In 2016, I followed my heart to Aarhus, Denmark, joining Anne, my girlfriend at the time, now wife. In Denmark, I shifted gears, leaving my job to study Innovation and entrepreneurship, supported by my savings. This decision was driven by my ambition to start a creative business.

Between 2016 and 2024, I co-founded various creative projects that blended art, creativity, and community, such as Aarhus Makers, Open the Kimono, and Aarhus Futura, while at the same time, I was working in tech in executive positions.

In 2022, becoming a father changed my life profoundly. Balancing work with parenting responsibilities, my creative pursuits took a backseat.

Today, I'm still on a journey to discover who I am creatively and personally - it takes a lifetime - guided by principles like art, cognitive diversity, creative processes, empathy, and active listening, I still feel the urge to create.

So, I’m scratching that itch.

Rebel Strokes is the next chapter on that discovery process.

Welcome to my mind.

mr.keena