Artist Antonio Sevilla on Bruce Lee, sustainable design and sketching Chinese women

Shanghai-based artist Antonio Sevilla dabbles in everything from split-second sketches and sculpture, to making props so realistic he almost ended up in the cop shop (more on that later). His studio is a chaotic obstacle course of Bruce Lee scrapbooks, giant polystyrene heads and his current specialty -- incredibly innovative constructions using old plastic containers.

His latest model of a motorcycle crash made entirely from recycled materials, which comments on the environmental problems facing China today, is particularly striking.

CNNGo: When did you start sketching?

I had a big family and not much money, so I’ve been making toys and things out of scrap materials all my life. Actually I made my favorite creation when I was just nine years old. I lived in Spain, near Valencia, and we had no money then. We were pretty lawless kids.

I was a very good drawer, I never stopped drawing things, and since I’d been drawing practically since I was born, I already had nine years experience. I drew a copy of a 50 pesetas bill -- so carefully! -- and went to the local store, bought gum and candies and they gave me the change. I couldn’t believe it! I never did it again though. >

CNNGo: Tell us about your caricature sketches. 

I have drawn over 8,000 portraits in the past nine years. I used to draw up to 100 in one day, which is completely unique in China. Who else on the planet can say the same thing?

I’d draw at clients’ parties and various spots around Shanghai. I like to pull distinctive features out from people’s faces. In China, girls usually want big eyes and a triangle-shaped face, so I like to play with this idea a lot, and exaggerate the concept.

CNNGo: What are your major influences?

Beauty, surprise, deep political experience or a beautiful girl.

As an artist, how can you keep dreaming? Unexpectedly beautiful things keep you going. In terms of Shanghai, the best thing is the abundance of materials. It’s so easy to collect plastic containers and all the other materials I need for projects -- as long as ayi doesn’t get hold of them first!

CNNGo: What’s your view of the Shanghai art scene?

It’s not like Beijing, but in some areas is going well. There’s an amazing sculpture area on Huaihai Lu, called Shanghai Sculpture Space (570 Huaihai Xi Lu, near Hongqiao Lu 淮海西路570号, 近虹桥路, + 86 21 6280 7844, www.sss570.com), which has just been there a couple of years. It has a Mercedes car made out of bricks.

CNNGo: Since you work in so many art forms, which is your favorite?

I don’t have an overall preference; it depends on what the topic is and what I’m trying to do. In terms of materials I love acrylics painting because I draw so fast, it’s very efficient and very cheap.

At the moment I also like working with polystyrenes for sculpture because it’s soft and easy to manipulate. My favorite subjects are Bruce Lee and, of course, women!