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Spraygraphic Interview with Artist Miguelina Rivera
By Spraygraphic | April 7, 2008
Spraygraphic’s Chuck b. interview with installation artist, sculptor, and painter Miguelina Rivera about her art making process, her installations, and her most recent work.
Spraygraphic Interview with Miguelina Rivera
SG: Where do you currently live and work?
MR: I live in Montpellier, France and I work there, as well as my country of origin, Dominican Republic.
SG: What mediums do you work with?
MR: I consider myself a visual artist and my mediums: sculpture/installation, painting and photography.
SG: Describe your working process when creating a new work.
MR: I do all the preliminary studies with my 3d piece and then, while building the sculpture/installation I work on paintings that document the process before, during, and after the sculpture/installation is made.
SG: What kind of things do you do when you get blocked or find it hard to create something?
MR: UhmMM!!Good question? Sometimes… I read…I do scribbles on different pieces of paper…I look at the sky…I go to good art exhibits…I look at minimal and irrelevant things more in detail.
SG: Where are you currently finding your inspiration?
MR: Experiences, memory, nostalga, absences, nature… I guess I try to explain myself through my work.
SG: Can you tell us a little about your piece, Thorn of Power.
MR: One of the personally intriguing myths about my country is the introduction of Catholicism, a religious conviction which caused many deaths due to its untiring struggle for power. “Power of Thorn” presents to you a new crown…”Fence”…that no longer serves as a head-dress and interlaces itself in circumferences that reign/delineate territories that we cannot cover/embrace and that radiate a celestial quality – directional lights that signal to each and everyone of us – the observers – appropriated by a myth onto our reality and which continues in search of “forgiveness”.
SG: Do you find it a challenge to incorporate light/electricity into your installations?
MR: No it is not a challenge. It was in the beginning, but lighting is key to the content I want to express. I see it…as a soul…or as an intimate element inside this cold/rusted metal structure.
SG: Can you tell us a little about Burning Heart. How long did it take you to complete the project? Did you do all of the construction?
MR: Burning heart/Coeur ardent is the biggest accomplishment of my career. It’s the largest piece I have ever create, and it’s my first public piece shown in Europe.
SG: How long did it take you to complete the project?
MR: The project itself took around 5 months.
SG: Did you do all of the construction?
MR: The conception of the piece and the 3D Model in scale yes…but the actual construction was build by (and in) the CMI shop with my assistance. Burning Heart measures 8.233 meters and weights 4 tons.
SG: Where has your work been seen?
MR: In different countries …NY, Dominican Republic, France, Belgium, Norway.
SG: Where will it be seen next?
MR: In an old vineyard named “Domaine de la Dourbie” in the south of France during the summer.
SG: What is your dream art assignment?
Mr: I guess I don’t have a dream art assignment. My biggest dream would be to have the facility to well expose the work I produce and the possibility to fund public art projects like “Burning Heart.”
SG: What is your favorite color?
MR: Orange and turquoise. Being precise… No primary colors.
SG: Who is your favorite artist? And Why?
MR: I cannot named one, it wouldn’t be fair. I like many and for all different reasons. Also, they are constantly changing, but to list a few: Louise Bourgeoise because of her driven force to produce intimate, sincere, and powerful messages in a really personal way. Tony Capellan because I find his pieces really sour, but sublime at the same time. Tony Cragg because of his sensibility of letting the nature of the material speak on its own and his search for new materials. Wangechi Mutu because since our study together at Cooper Union she was outstanding and she knows it. Amy Cutler….because of her psychological myths of gender issues that she is narrating with consistency. We also studied together. Xavier Veilhan because of his contemporary vision of interpreting forms and shapes in sculpture.
SG: What book/magazine are you reading this week?
MR: Theories of Modern Art, Dictionary of Contemporary Artist, Art Press, Beaux Art.
SG: Ever do a self portrait? Where is it now?
MR: Yes, many while a student. They are in the living room of my parents house in Santo Domingo.
SG: Any final words of advice?
Persistency, courage, and a strong motivation will keep artist moving.
ART: 1. Burning Heart, 2. Thorn of Power, 3. Untitled, 4. Painting of Shield, 5. Shield, 6. Miguelina and MCI crew, 7. Miguelina in action.
Topics: Artist Interviews, International-Art, Sculpture Art |
