We had the good fortune of connecting with Pablo Cuen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pablo, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was born in a household of classic ballet and flamenco dancers, musicians, painters and writers. From a very early age I developed love and passion for theater, painting and literature. I knew that I wanted to dedicate my life to art. To do so, I knew it was important to be disciplined and creative, always looking beyond the evident, and question everything.

At the age of ten, while living in Spain, I started my journey with writing and oil painting. At the same time I voiced my interest in acting and requested to take acting classes— I knew painting and writing was something I could develop and explore on my own. Theater, on the other hand, requires collaboration of an entire company. With Acting as a goal, I set my focus on going to Acting school, while developing my writing and painting skills independently.

Throughout my life I have moved thirty-four times until I made my way to Los Angeles. The journey to get here has not been easy, there have been many challenges: from economic to emotional instability but deep inside I understood that the person I am is only able to function in the world through the ways we as humans have found how to express our deepest fears, emotions and desires.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m thirty two years old now and sometimes, when people ask me about what I am, I say I’m an actor, because it is the only credential that I can show. But my body of work in painting and literature is vast and I’m eager to share it with others. Most of my work is in the Spanish language, since I was born in Mexico, but I’m working on translating my first short story collection, which I began writing in 2016.

I took the pandemic as a time for me to fully reconnect with painting and writing. I’ve reached a point where I can balance all three practices. For me, more than trying to achieve a career or fulfill some growth pattern, I see the artistic career as a lifestyle and a choice. A choice to challenge the rules, to try to create with broken pieces, transform something that someone could disregard and create something beautiful. It’s a ‘willing to see, to open your heart to the other and see deep into their eyes and say: I’m here and we are the same.’ It’s the choice of accepting that the money and stability is not always going to be there and use everything around us to share kindness and generosity to the other. Through acting, painting and writing I want to be able to share all those worlds, experiences and ideas that I’ve discovered through the eyes of my fellow artist colleagues, while revealing my own.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to where it all started at Olvera Street, and then all the hot spots off Downtown L.A. Grand Central Market, The Broad and MOCA. Little Tokyo and China Town.
South Pasadena Specifically the Huntington Library.
Matador Beach and the Santa Monica Pier.
I love to hike so all the trails from Temescal canyon to the Hollywood sign and San Bernardino mountains.
Of course Hollywood and maybe some theme parks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost I dedicate this shoutout to my mother, who as a single parent showed me and my sister all the love, encouragement and support than any person could only dream of. She is the pillar that has always encouraged me to pursue the unachievable.

To the Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles, where I learn that acting should always be approached from humanity, empathy and love.

To my mentors in Mexico(Rosaura Bichir, Ximena Escalante, Shewang Kelsang, and Amada Domínguez) who were able to see the light in me, when I wasn’t able to. Special Shoutout to Rodolfo Obregón and Ricardo White. Now very dear friends of mine.

To Eduardo Torres my childhood friend who left this world early.

To my sister.

To Luis, the love of my life.

To all of my very dear friends that helped me open my eyes to the world.

Website: cuenstudio.com

Instagram: @pablocuen

Image Credits
Miguel Perez Ramiro Martinez Byron Naidoo

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