1. How has both your Mexican roots and Miami upbringing influenced your art?
My Mexican roots have influenced me in an ancestral way, being that I never really got the full experience of living out my life in Mexico City. All I had to go off was looking through books and reading about my culture. Through my Mexican roots, I’ve also learned the importance of family and unity. Along with a long history of revolutionary and powerful displays of artistic expression from murals painted on walls to sculptural murals. I try and channel that same energy into most of my newer works.
My Miami upbringing influenced my art with the introduction of graffiti around my neighborhood and driving up and down highways on family trips. It was amazing to see expressions of a “crime” being committed very precise and clean. Seeing the pop of Miami colors teal, pink, yellow and orange. On a personal level Miami has been an introduction to a diverse community of people from many different places around the world and it has been amazing to see all levels of artistry being represented. To now be considered a part of this art culture in Miami is definitely a big step for me.
2. Tell us about your exhibition at Museum of Graffiti and the inspiration of Signs of the Times?
“Signs of the times” is my first major solo exhibition in a highly respected Museum—which I thank Ket and Allison for their support and the opportunity to showcase myself and artistic abilities in a impactful way.
Signs of the times is an exhibition that displays powerful messages that reflect the sentiments of the community opposed to the every day signs we see which only tell the truth they want you to hear. In the show you’ll be able to see a strong immigration stance against a lot of current politician ideologies whose focus is on injustices towards something very pure in this world: KIDS—Kids who have no idea why they have to leave home and cross a dessert. You’ll also see signs focused on political decisions that lead to injustices on the working class and the black community. How taking a stance against these injustices isn’t only just an artistic expression but our necessary right to go out*, against the odds* and fight for your neighborhood community.
3. With the current political environment, how is that impacting both your art and you personally?
In the current political environment is one that I feel we have been in since my arrival in 1996 being that they removed the green card permits that were being given out to immigrants to be able to work and get on a pathway to citizenship. After that was revoked, me and my family were faced with roadblocks due to our legal status but my parents went above and beyond to ensure they found a way to make ends meet regardless of our situation. Fast forward to 2012 everyone got a glimpse of hope with the Daca program which helped undocumented early childhood arrivals. That has helped me to maintain employment and help me start my own art collective that focuses on mentoring younger up and coming artist with similar backgrounds. Aside from that the effects I face daily is that I live in a nation where I’m considered human enough to pay taxes, yet not human enough to have the right to travel freely and expand my artistic reach, not being able to protect myself legally, and constantly having to think about the fate of my career due to judgment of my legal status.
4. You primarily work with spray paint, what about that medium do you find impactful?
I work primarily with spray paint because of the ranges and techniques that can be achieved with them. Not only that but the history that comes with the can and the culture. For decades, spray paint cans were used by young teens to express themselves in a world that didn’t seem to care about their voices. They used the spray can to defy the norms of what art really is and created a completely new art form and from all of that we’re able to share messages with other youth in their surrounding areas. In less than 10 mins I can write a message that an entire intersection will have to look at similar to the large billboard and ads you run into in traffic that companies pays thousands to be able to achieve. The freedom that comes with having balls and a can of spray paint is almost like a superpower.
5. What do you hope the audience experience through your art?
I hope the exhibition inspires younger minds to really chase and fulfill their dreams regardless of any challenges, or in my case achieving legal status in the country I grew up in, that they may face in life. I hope that if a person with an opposite opinion gets to witness the show through my perspective that they will be able sympathize some of the realities we face today. Overall I want for the general public to be introduced to my work on a personal level through photos of my history and examples of my earlier works that will help them really understand the meaning behind the immediate scary/daunting appearance of my skull iconography. We all have sacrifices we make, we just don’t see them all on the surface we have to get to know one another to understand that. I want people to ask questions about it if they don’t understand it and not just immediately dismiss it.
Bonus Question: How do you see your art career evolving?
I can see my art career evolving in multiple ways, from gaining popularity among the mainstream and becoming a rising artist, to expanding my artwork to be viewed internationally regardless of my ability to travel freely, and also helping me deepen my roots within my local community. I’ve always had a passion for giving back and the importance of a community has always been a big thing in my family. In a more artistic point my art career will be heading in a sculptural/3d objects, along with large scale murals.
