In the heart of El Raval in Barcelona, where art, design, and everyday life intersect, Isla Feral emerges as a hybrid space shaped by friendship, intuition, and a shared desire to create something authentic. Artist Nicasio Torres and his friend Javier Meneses, an entrepreneur with a passion for botany and design, have joined forces to bring this project to life — a place where flowers, upcycled fashion, and art coexist without hierarchy. In this conversation, they reflect on the origins of Isla Feral, the meaning behind its name, and the vision guiding its evolution.
How was Isla Feral born, and at what moment did you feel the need to create this hybrid space?
We had spent years with the idea of creating a space together that would bring together what we are most passionate about: Nicasio’s artistic work and upcycling project, and Javier’s interest in botany and design.
That’s where the hybrid idea comes from — because we feel it best represents the concept of bringing together flowers, plants, art, fashion, and other elements aligned with our idea of “feral” in one single place.
What does “feral” mean to you, and how is that concept translated into the day-to-day life of the project?
We understand “feral” as something that returns to its wild state after attempts have been made to domesticate it. In that definition, we found the spirit of what we were building, since for both of us this project is a way of reconnecting with our most authentic selves and with what we genuinely love.
We also see a connection between this concept and our queer identity — in the sense of stepping outside established norms and embracing the freedom to do things in our own way.
All of this is reflected in the shop: in the flowers, where we are drawn to rarer or more singular varieties; in the unique garments created through upcycling; in the art; and in every object in the space, each responding to that same way of seeing.
Why El Raval? What interested you about this neighborhood as a context for Isla Feral?
We feel that El Raval is an island, and that the block we are on is, in turn, another island within Raval. We are in an area where La Massana, MACBA, CCCB, design shops, art galleries, bookstores, and restaurants coexist.
It’s a very vibrant environment, both commercial and cultural, with a varied and carefully curated offer right in the city center. That’s why it felt like the perfect place for Isla Feral — and we love to think that our presence can also contribute to and strengthen that energy.
How do art, floral design, and upcycling practices coexist in the space without clear hierarchies?
We are very clear that these are the pillars of Isla Feral, so they all occupy a central place in the shop. We’re interested in them coexisting without hierarchies, blending naturally.
From the beginning, when we started designing the space, we had in mind a versatile, living, and ever-changing place — one that doesn’t remain fixed in a single form. We wanted Isla Feral to grow and transform over time, incorporating new brands, new pieces, collaborations, or even unexpected proposals, and for all of that to integrate organically, without forcing it.
How do the people who enter the space — neighbors, curious visitors, collaborators — influence the identity of the project? Can you describe the clientele during this first month?
They set the tone and rhythm of the shop in a way, reinforcing the idea of Isla Feral as a space for encounter and exchange that we envisioned from the beginning. That’s also why we felt it made sense for the project to take shape in a physical location: we wanted it to be a place where conversations and connections could emerge.
We place great importance on closeness and personal interaction, while also respecting those who prefer to come in, browse, and discover things at their own pace.
So far, the clientele has been quite varied. We’ve noticed that those interested in clothing or art tend to be more occasional visitors, while flower customers are usually more local, which allows for a closer relationship to develop. We love seeing people return for more flowers and noticing that word about our arrival in the neighborhood is spreading. We’ve truly felt very welcomed from the start.
Nicasio’s collection begins with vintage garments treated as pictorial surfaces. What role do error, gesture, and the uncorrected play in your creative process?
All my artistic work is built through its own process, so everything that happens becomes part of it and is integrated. I don’t distinguish between sketch and final work, and increasingly I feel that nothing is an error — everything that occurs becomes a gesture or a sign pointing toward the direction I need to follow.
So error, gesture, creative process, and final work are always interconnected for me. In the case of pictorial upcycling, each garment already comes with a shape, a fabric, a history, and the paint behaves differently on each one. I can’t change that nature — I can only flow with it, with surprise and with accident.
That is what makes each piece unique. And all of this motivates me even more and gives deeper meaning to continuing to develop this project.
What kinds of collaborations or narratives would you like to see emerge from the space in the future?
We would like to see narratives aligned with the feral spirit emerge — proposals with artistic and social value, intersecting with queerness. We understand that these narratives can take many forms: from projects happening outside the shop in collaboration with brands and artists who share these values, to actions activating the space itself and fostering encounter, exchange, and collective creation.
We want Isla Feral to be a real meeting point, encouraging physical connections at a time when many relationships and experiences have shifted into the digital realm.
How do you imagine the evolution of Isla Feral over the coming year?
On one hand, we imagine consolidating the original proposal: flowers, upcycling, and art — but above all, the hybridization of these three practices, which is what truly gives meaning to Isla Feral.
We have many ideas in mind: organizing workshops, developing vintage collections with botanical printing, and opening a line of commissioned custom work — from painted garments to floral design or illustration.
On the other hand, we are very interested in Isla Feral becoming a space where we invite other brands and artists to present their work: hosting small exhibitions, presentations, or workshops connected to this idea of the feral.
We are aware that all of this requires a great deal of work, so we plan to move step by step, calmly. First, we want to solidify what we can do ourselves, and from there gradually create the conditions to welcome external proposals and allow everything to grow naturally.
Thank you,
Javier and Nicasio <3
