Okuda San Miguel
Coloring the World
Dear Okuda,
Thank you for this interview.
Can you tell us something more about your video “Coloring the World 2016”? In how many countries can your artwork be found?
Around 15 countries, I don’t remember now...I travel with my camera and try to film funny or interesting moments in order to do a personal compilation of the whole year. I ask a musician friend to create a song for it too, and with my editor Javier Diaz I try to do a special film. We’ve done 2 in the last 2 years.
Do you agree that art makes the world look smaller because of its universality? Can you share with us any experiences about where your art has taken you?
Of course! My art sometimes transforms places into a better and more positive environment. I had some incredible experiences in Morocco for example, where art put aside borders between different religions; or the Kiev metro train, a symbol of Ukraine’s independence; or the church of cannabis in Denver like modernity icon.
You have participated in numerous solo & group exhibitions. What are some of the outcomes you look forward to because of these experiences?
Depending of each one. I just try to keep growing and learning.
It is said that your works often raise contradictions about different topics, expressed within a single entity: between the human being and himself. What are you comments in words about this portrayal of your art?
I don’t care about identity, and I do animals in a same level than humans because both are lost in the same cage-planet trying to find happiness, food or the meaning of life. No faces, no identity. Actions and feelings are more important.
Do you believe that the human being will ever find peace with oneself? What’s your attitude towards peace within oneself? Do you think this is the perfect moment in history for your art with the high number of contradictions that present all around?
Yes, contradictions in my work are a mirror of contradictions in reality.
No peace, because capitalism controls people’s minds through TV, religions and money, and they can’t see the love and the peace in others…and because fucking wars are businesses for governments and corporations themselves … They say they want peace, but their business is to make weapons.
Depending of each one. I just try to keep growing and learning.
It is said that your works often raise contradictions about different topics, expressed within a single entity: between the human being and himself. What are you comments in words about this portrayal of your art?
I don’t care about identity, and I do animals in a same level than humans because both are lost in the same cage-planet trying to find happiness, food or the meaning of life. No faces, no identity. Actions and feelings are more important.
Do you believe that the human being will ever find peace with oneself? What’s your attitude towards peace within oneself? Do you think this is the perfect moment in history for your art with the high number of contradictions that present all around?
Yes, contradictions in my work are a mirror of contradictions in reality.
No peace, because capitalism controls people’s minds through TV, religions and money, and they can’t see the love and the peace in others…and because fucking wars are businesses for governments and corporations themselves … They say they want peace, but their business is to make weapons.
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You make plenty of references to the animal world in your art: Horse Head, Monkey Head, Cougar, King of the Jungle…etc. Why do you choose animals to make statements and transmit messages to the world?
Animals and humans are in the same level. I want to show the animals with feelings and attitudes. I create some of my animal sculptures as hunting trophies. But I am only playing with the idea… I rather have people at home placing multicolored plastic animal heads on their walls, respecting mother nature, because it is the key to life.
You work on murals, paintings on canvas, sculptures and have developed photography as well. How do you pick one medium over another to express a new idea?
One of my most recent ideas is to build big sculptures for public spaces… maybe the decision depends on the moment and the type of project to come next…
What can you tell us about your current trip to the US and your art being made and exhibited as we speak?
I did my first solo show in USA at Corey Helford Gallery during April. It featured a whole new series of my vibrantly colored synthetic on enamel paintings, sculpture, and tapestry, offering a personal reinterpretation of classic imagery through a contemporary lens.
And then I was a few days visiting some artists’ studios because once a year I curate my own group show, called Theriomorphism. I enjoyed a lot when I visited Cleon Peterson, Tomokazu Matsuyama and Van Minen studios…
During my last 4 days I painted some ceilings inside Alicia Keys/Swizz Beatz’s house… pretty cool, huh?
Animals and humans are in the same level. I want to show the animals with feelings and attitudes. I create some of my animal sculptures as hunting trophies. But I am only playing with the idea… I rather have people at home placing multicolored plastic animal heads on their walls, respecting mother nature, because it is the key to life.
You work on murals, paintings on canvas, sculptures and have developed photography as well. How do you pick one medium over another to express a new idea?
One of my most recent ideas is to build big sculptures for public spaces… maybe the decision depends on the moment and the type of project to come next…
What can you tell us about your current trip to the US and your art being made and exhibited as we speak?
I did my first solo show in USA at Corey Helford Gallery during April. It featured a whole new series of my vibrantly colored synthetic on enamel paintings, sculpture, and tapestry, offering a personal reinterpretation of classic imagery through a contemporary lens.
And then I was a few days visiting some artists’ studios because once a year I curate my own group show, called Theriomorphism. I enjoyed a lot when I visited Cleon Peterson, Tomokazu Matsuyama and Van Minen studios…
During my last 4 days I painted some ceilings inside Alicia Keys/Swizz Beatz’s house… pretty cool, huh?
