What comes first - the medium or the message? Tell me a little about the work that is on view.
Definitely the message that I'm trying to convey and express. The medium comes second but plays an important process when achieving the point of view. Artwork: well, there are many paintings that are from my first facet as an artist, for instance: "De donde viene el color" was one of the pieces that made me realize the importance of color in a painting and how empowering that can be when expressing myself. From there it goes to my second facet like "Ojos de Rubi." This is a perfect and pure example of expressionism, linking two time periods and cultures. I have dared to bring Mexican colonial culture into a modern era by using golden medium as a royal background contrasting the beauty of La Catrina.
What do you feel is your role as an artist?
As an artist I think that it is my responsibility to inspire others and at the same time bring awareness of a better understanding of Mexican culture and tradition, by doing this I'm hoping to channel cultural bias, racism and negative energy into a positive point of view of a multicultural community.
What influences your practice/works?
Many things inspired my artwork, for example: Mexican culture past and rapidly changing present; Mexican traditions; personal experiences past and present; and my own struggle as a gay/Hispanic man.
Who are other artists you look to for inspiration?
Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros, Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Gauguin and many others.
What writings do you recommend reading to have a better understanding of your artwork and your art practice/process?
Although, my artwork mostly reflects personal and intimate expressions of art, here are some books that in some way have inspired me as the artist that I am now.
El Alquimista by Paulo Coelho
Spanish: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/376844036
English: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1600806036
Adultery by Paulo Coelho
Spanish: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1350975036
English: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1335575036
La Espia by Paulo Coelho
Spanish: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1500282036#overlay103
English: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1493432036
El Perfume by Patrick Suskind
Spanish: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1466289036
English: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/69683036
Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Spanish: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1080318036
English: https://jocolibrary.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1592943036
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Ficciones Alianza Emece by Jorge Luis Borges
From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty
