Okuda San Miguel

Artist’s Statement

The two key principles that rule both my professional and my personal life are positivism and a constant desire for self-improvement. My passion to create is what drives me; I need to create in order to feel happy and fulfilled. Furthermore I try to contribute in making incremental improvements to society with my artwork.

What inspires me to wake up every day is traveling, discovering new places and their people, and transforming environments with my art by leaving some trace of me with it. Because I believe the reason for Art, apart from breaking down boundaries amongst people, cultures and religions, is basically to make people feel. This must be the main goal so that, whoever witnesses it, should experience somewhat of a personal transformation. Therefore, my artwork presents contradictions and metaphors about existence, multiculturalism, identity and the meaning of life and freedom. I would like to invite people to do their own reflection about the contradictions between modernity and our roots, nature and society. Initially, my street artwork was recognized by my geometrical letters. Once I started my studies in Fine Arts, and got to know classic Surrealism, I began to introduce figurative structures that were ruled by grey shades. When completing my studies, my body craved to add color to all those shapes.An evolving collision of both worlds, academic and street, became the result of my current style. This was made possible by applying geometrical structures in all the main elements like animals, humans and architectural elements. I have used everything from classical contours in my Venus, to ethnical references as backgrounds, all of it nurtured by my constant voyages.

Lately I have broadened my artistic battleground with sculptures, artistic installations, tapestries done with my mother and sister, and the cloth drippings acquired through some of my trips; plus photography, which I resort to periodically. Not only has Graffiti been my undoubted source of inspiration, but also a pathway that has led to the formation of my identity as an artist. The multiplicity of El Bosco and its renowned masterpiece “El Jardín de las Delicias”, which I could stare at for hours, the geometry used by Picasso or the pop ideas of Warhol have also played a major role in defining my artistic personality. Along with other artists such as Dalí, Murakami, Magritte or Ernst, just to mention a few examples. I am very interested in the different ancient iconographies that I have discovered through my travels to Latin America, India and Africa, and which I have incorporated in my work. I love the contrast between classical and contemporary elements; I enjoy playing with traditional indigenous structures, by interacting them with my own characters. My other sources of inspiration include music, fashion, cinema, the city and nightlife. Pop surrealism is a well-shaken cocktail of all the above-mentioned elements.Art must be present in public spaces constantly and my mission is to transform these spaces in a way that passing through them is an enjoyable experience. I aim at converting the monochromatic concrete structures and buildings into vibrant places that are filled with color and positivity, helping and hoping to change the lives of people. I want people to stop looking at the pavement and start looking up and around. In the process of making an artwork for a public space I consider very seriously the surroundings where it is going to be placed. I love to play with and integrate the architecture on which I work with my own creation. Also, I do not make any sketches, preferring to have no preconceived ideas and be inspired directly by the surroundings.

IT IS IN FACT IN PUBLIC SPACES WHERE I CREATE THE MOST POWERFUL AND DIRECT ART PIECES, WHICH DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER FROM THOSE WHO RUN INTO IT. MEANWHILE IN MY STUDIO, I CREATE MORE PROFOUND AND DETAILED ARTWORKS INVITING THE VIEWER TO A DEEPER INSIGHT.

Source: okudasanmiguel.com