CV, statement and proposal

My professional life is divided between my career, healthcare consulting, and my passion, arts and crafts. Thanks to a tremendous use of time, my job as a consultant allows me to dedicate enough time to my work as an illustrator and designer, always eager to learn new things in both areas.

Healthcare

Arts & crafts

Medtronic Jul 2017 - present

Senior consultant Clinical lead in pathway definition and process improvement

Laura Flores

Madrid – Spain laurafmencia@gmail.com +34 699778221

EDUCATION o Green belt, Lean practitioner, Cardiff university. 2019 o Design thinking, Madrid (Spain), 2016 o Project Management Professional (PMP), PMPulse (Bahrain). 2014 o Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, European University of Madrid-UEM (Spain). 2012-2013 o Pediatric Intensive Care Specialization, University of Oviedo (Spain). 2010-2011 o Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety Activities, Health and Social Welfare Institute of Madrid (Spain). 2009-2010 o University diploma in Nursing, Nursing University School of Oviedo (Spain). 2006-2009

Indra May 2012 – Jul 2017

Exhibitions • Solo exhibit – Triggers house (Barcelona, 2021) • Fast expo – Various artists – Siroco (Madrid, 2019) • Zinefest – Various artists – Ohz Gallery (Oviedo, 2018) • “The Smiths” tribute – Various artists – Siroco (Madrid, 2017)

PMO – Program management office Management and support of a nation-wide implementation project. Bahrain

Publications • Aurora – graphic novel - WIP (2023) • Grandma – graphic novel - WIP (2023) • A drawing a day – Digital comic (Bahrain – Madrid, 2012-2020) • Adiós, abuelo – Fanzine, self published (Madrid, 2018) • Metro – Fanzine, self published (Madrid, 2015) • Fact magazine Bahrain – Cover and article (Bahrain, 2014) • Expat life – Digital comic (Bahrain, 2013)

HUCA (hospital) Oct 2009 – May 2011

Fashion design

Clinical expert and consultant Commercial activities, strategic planning, definition of requirements and supervision of development of a clinical IT tool. Spain

Registered nurse Nursing activities in different clinical areas. Oviedo, Spain

Flora (brand) • Design and Production (2012-2014) Dcartesianos (brand) • Design and Production (2007-2012)

LANGUAGES

Custome design • Yo tampoco sé qué hago aquí – Marco Barada, Cabiria productions – short film (Madrid, 2020) • La noche americana - David Huergo - Short film (Gijón, 2009)

o Spanish, native speaker o English, advanced level o French, basic level

1988

Illustration and comic

1992

2000

2006

2007

2012

2015

2022

?

Was born

Started drawing

Started sewing

Studied nursing

Founded DCartesianos

Moved to Bahrain

Moved to Madrid

Residency at Studio Kura

Biography Laura Flores is a native of Oviedo, a small city at the north of Spain. She started drawing at an early age, probably due to his father’s obsession with comic books and painters. Maybe to somehow connect with him, or just because of a passion shared through DNA, she began to create her own comics.

To not leave her mother aside, she started to sew also, as a way to continue the tradition of all female members of her family. While she was studying nursing at the University, she founded a fashion brand called DCartesianos, which selled handmade garments based on midcentury vintage patterns, first locally and later on, internationally.

In a small town, and coming from a working class family, it’s hard to dedicate oneself to the arts, so she continue pursuing her career in healthcare, being able to combine it with illustration and fashion design jobs that came up.

Artist statement I love creating things. From drawing on a piece of paper to making a dress or building a wood cabinet (something new I’ve been learning recently and it’s absolutely awesome). I feel it as a way of communicating without words and self expression but also, exploring these techniques (sewing, embroidery, carpentry, ceramics, cobblership…) helps me to keep the crafts alive in an increasingly digital world.

My style, both in illustration and fashion, I’d like to think is honest. Honest as a reflection of true to the form and meaning. A drawing needs to show a feeling, and a garment needs to fit a body, without exaggeration or lies.

In a more expressive way, my comics are stories about real people or situations. My latest work include a research of the evolution of my neighborhood through the family that used to run a factory down the street, with a 360º point of view including architecture, fashion, way of living and sociology.

Proposal I discovered Studio Kura during covid-19 pandemic and have been thinking about the project I would develop there ever since.

I would like to combine my two passions, sewing and drawing, by creating a capsule collection based on traditional japanase garments and techniques (such as sashiko), with modern fabrics handpainted with Itoshima’s landmarks or folklore. I calculate that I can make at least 2 dresses, 2 skirts, a blouse and a jacket during my 4-weeks stay. These garments would work as wearable works-of-art.

Also, I would keep a graphic journal (like a comic-style diary) to reflect the full experience, including the food, the relation with other residents or the trips to Fukuoka.

I’d love to investigate the surroundings of the studio and the history of the place.