Artists | MEXICO Interview with César Aréchiga
As a child, what did you want to become (profession-wise)?
When I was a child, I dreamed about being a paleontologist. I was fascinated by dinosaurs and wanted to discover dinosaur bones and fossils.
In which town did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, but eventually left as my art had opened the door for international travels: I began to show my work abroad and gain new perspectives and inspiration.
Do you think your background has influenced your current art style? If so, what specific element in your background most pervasively influences your current art style?
Everything around me has, and always will, influence my style of art: my family, friends, and my city – watching day by day all that is happening in my life and the world around me – will always influence my style of work. Now that I live in New York, my current style of work is directly influenced by my current environment here in Manhattan.
What inspires you in the job of being an artist?
I am constantly inspired as an artist, and these inspirations are shown on the canvas. I, along with my friends and family, have been personally affected by the drug violence in Mexico. Some of my close friends have been murdered, and on my last visit to my hometown, my parents’ house was entirely robbed, from top to bottom. Some of my paintings were stolen as well. However, these social, political, and environmental issues on a global scale inspire me to send a message or statement when creating much of my work. These, along with the inspiration I have received from other artists and personal strife I have overcome, have made me realize that there is no capacity or limit in which I can express myself, my feelings, and my message on canvas. When I paint, I paint without borders and with zero restraint.
In which way do you consider yourself an innovative creator?
My work creates a collective consciousness and awareness about the messages that I express through my work. For example, since living in New York for over a year, I have been experimenting with trash and various raw, discarded
“I am constantly inspired as an artist, and these inspirations are shown on the canvas. I, along with my friends and family, have been personally affected by the drug violence in Mexico. Some of my close friends have been murdered, and on my last visit to my hometown, my parents’ house was entirely robbed, from top to bottom. Some of my paintings were stolen as well. However, these social, political, and environmental issues on a global scale inspire me to send a message or statement when creating much of my work.”
materials to share with the world. I want everyone to know there are many ways we can recycle our waste. Using beer cans as roses, cardboard boxes, wood, an umbrella, or even a mattress, I am constantly experimenting with new, but discarded, materials to send an environmental message about over-consumption in this city and the ways in which we can recycle our waste. In my case, this message is sent through art.
Also, on my next visit to Mexico, I will be driving an old car near the border so that I can shoot it with an AK47 and set it ablaze. This is a conceptual art piece created to send the message to the people of Mexico who are involved in the drug trade that the violence needs to stop. Innocent people are dying, and this needs to end now.
What do you consider to be your own masterpiece that you have created with this innovative style of art?
In regards to my environmental message, I would say that Calle Roja is my masterpiece. It is a large piece (72” x 78”) made of discarded Budweiser cardboard boxes and other discarded materials.
Do you have any plans for future masterpieces?
I believe that all the time, any artist, not just me, is constantly thinking about his/her future masterpiece. I have big plans for something but do not want to spoil them at this point.
Do you have any other creative ambitions or dreams to which you aspire?
Yes, but they are constantly changing as my life continues to evolve along with the world in which I live. I used to be an excellent fútbol (soccer) player in Mexico, and even played semi-professionally, but those dreams faded 50 pounds ago (laughs hysterically).
Which basic elements of creativity did your family teach you?
My family always gave me a good education: My grandmother was a painter, but with traditional materials; and my father had art materials in the house, but I am not sure why they were even there since he never used them. Once I had discovered them, my interest for art was born and began to grow. I suppose the various materials and types of mixed media I had been exposed to was the jump start to my career.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132