Interview

Written By Adelé Kotzé

Danilo Lopez-Roman

Danilo Lopez-Roman holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas-El Paso. His poetry, fiction, and digital art have been published in Hayden’s Ferry Review, Linden Lane magazine, Carrier Pigeon, The Chachalaca Review, Border Senses, Phoebe magazine, Baquiana, El Pez y la Serpiente, and many others. He lives in Miami, Florida where he works as a writer, editor, anthologist, translator, digital artist, and architect.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I am an architect licensed to practice in Florida and Texas. I also have an MBA from INCAE Business School and a MFA from the University of Texas. As an author, I have published seven poetry collections and one short story book. As a child, I had moments of profound immersion into myself and others of hyperactivity! During one of the latter, my mother gave me paper and a set of watercolors. Up until now, drawing and painting were a limited, back of my mind, activity. For the last couple of years, nevertheless, I have taken upon digital art to illustrate my dreams, which are vivid and plenty. I also use digital art to illustrate my poems and short stories. Each of my paintings is accompanied by a poem or fragment of a short story.”

What inspires you?

“Mostly my dreams and my own literary work. But also, world events, like the war of Russia against Ukraine or the horrid dictatorship in Nicaragua, move me to write and paint about them. Seeing other artists teaches me to see things and reality in a different light... they inspire me too.”

“Each of my paintings is accompanied by a poem or fragment of a short story.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I have found out that there are three grand themes that pervade my work, both, written and painted: a protest and denunciation of social injustice; the intricacies and beauty of love; and the recurring questioning of the nature of reality, of being and becoming. This last one encompasses quantum physics, mathematics, the relationship between dream state and awake state, language, even travels of all sorts.”

How would you describe your work?

“A surreal interpretation of desires, values, symbols, people, things, animals, colors, planets. Everything goes, as long as it makes the observer feel or think something. Like in poetry, where words are meant to say but also to make the reader of listener, feel something, digital art -or art in general- should be able to transmit a feeling, a clear or subliminal message. Art can be the voice of those without voice, or a way to transmit calmness, peace, love. Different artworks of mine have different objectives behind them.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I'd say Da Vinci, for his continuous pursuit of innovation and curiosity. Regardless my incursions into digital art, Thomas Kinkade, J.M.W. Turner and Greg Rutkowski. And of course, the founding father of surrealism, Salvador Dali.”

 What is your creative process like?

“It depends. There are days when the inspiration of the muses come unannounced: an event that triggers something inside me. A dream that remains impressed upon me when I wake up. A sudden phrase or song. Sometimes I catch the occasion and start producing something. Others, I jot down some notes or sketches for later development. In my night table I keep a booklet and a pen to write ideas down. In that notebook, I keep a list of future projects, either books, or poems, or paintings. Nowadays, with technology at the tips of your fingers, literally, it is easier to prepare a sketch for development at a later date and place.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“A medical doctor cures. But beyond that, saves lives. An attorney defends. But beyond that, may protect and save lives too. An architect designs. But beyond that, he or she improves the lives of those using the building and protects the environment, hence saving lives. A poet writes. But beyond that the poet puts the finger on the wound, like Pablo Neruda or questions philosophy and literature, like Jorge Luis Borges. Both aim to make us better humans. Each artist decides what his or her role is in society, but I cannot deny that ultimately, beyond putting lines and colors on a canvas, we aim to express our way to improve this world. Today, we need artist to become catalysts of change towards the betterment of society. So many societies today are at risk of destruction, they are being pushed to the edge of nowhere by oppressive governments and societal factions trying to snatch power by any means necessary. We all can do something to stop that trend.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“I am just starting my journey into the art world, so no exhibitions are in my resume. I exhibited some of my work in mobile vans in Miami Beach, along with other artists and I am currently in conversations with a couple of galleries to participate in group or solo exhibitions. Phoebe magazine acquired one of my paintings for their latest issue this past April 2023. And now you gave me the opportunity to be a part of your marvelous magazine. Thank you so much!”

 
Adelé Kotzé
Previous

Artist Profile
Next

Interview