Interview

Written By Editorial Team

Fernando Penaloza

Fernando Penaloza was born in La Paz, Bolivia and moved to New York City in his early teens. In his twenties he traveled to the South West where he engaged in numerous cultural activities. He co-founded the radio show ‘Raìces’ for the University of New Mexico, introducing Latin American music, literature, and poetry, combined with the new artistic and literary “Chicano” expression. The radio show is still live and the recordings were recently remastered and are now in the Library of Congress. He worked as artist and editor for the magazine ‘De Colores’, a journal of emerging Raza philosophies. Fernando and his brothers formed the musical group ‘Chaski’, bringing Andean music to the area.

The group traveled throughout the South West befriending numerous Native American pueblos and in occasion played next to Joan Baez and the group War. Fernando was invited by the Mayor of Lubbock and the Mexican American community to erect a wall and paint a mural of the history of the conquest. He also participated in the event for the Year of the Child painting another mural in Albuquerque, NM. In addition, he painted murals in Tolleson, AZ. Fernando was instrumental in the production of the cultural event ‘Sol y Sangre’ where a host of artists and Chicano writers gathered together in Albuquerque in celebration of the arts. Additionally, he was invited to many cultural festivals such as ‘Flor y Canto’ to recite poetry and give art workshops. He organized art shows, which included artists from Santa Fe and others from Latin America, especially one seminal called ‘Arte de las Americas’. Fernando then traveled back to La Paz and put a one-man art show sponsored by the French Alliance, thus opening venues amongst the cultures of the South West and Latin America. Back in New York City, Fernando participated in a group exhibition at Ward-Nasse Gallery depicting new emerging abstract movements in New York City. He also participated in The Bronx Latin American Biennale, which addressed contemporary issues within the context of politics, environmental issues in relation to global integration and the new vision of Latin American Art. He was part of a Collective exhibition at Casa Puebla Organization in conjunction with members of the New York City Hispanic Heritage, Columbus parade. Fernando conducted an art workshop at the Rockland Center for the Arts entitled The Primitive Vision. A workshop encompassing a comprehensive, visual, and oral presentation dealing with the principal aspects of primitivism and its reemergence in contemporary art. Fernando Penaloza lives in Houston, TX where he continues to produce art.

 

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

“I am originally from Bolivia and my background goes back to the mythical ruins of Tiahuanaco. My father was an artist, he loved literature and music, which was a great source of inspiration to me. I started early drawing from the classics. Afterwards I moved to New York City, attended the School of Art and Design, frequented museums and galleries becoming part of the art scene.”

What inspires you?

“I come from the romantic tradition. I love beauty, the colors of the sunset, the cosmos, and all that is beyond the appearance of reality. I’m inspired by the art and the creative output of the tribes of the world. I love the myths of humanity as much as the rigorous philosophical discourse of Western tradition. The Totems of the West Coast natives of America, the cubist sculptures of the coast of Africa, the plumed serpent of Mesoamerica as well as the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, and the Surrealists vision, are all products of the human imagination; an inexhaustible fountain of inspiration.”

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

“My work is a reflection of inner realities that comprise the spiritual as well as the objective world. I waver between chaos and order, the Apollonian and the Dionysian. The archetypes prevail as universal conduits for creation. I want for all to witness the wonder and magic of the universe. Art can transform the psyche; it supersedes reason and integrates us with the encompassing cosmic whole. It is one of the most liberating forces that reveal the mechanism and mystery of the universe.”

How would you describe your work?

“My work is a combination of the subconscious and the objective world. Images manifest spontaneously and I consciously turn them into compositions of form and color. I like to create things with my hands, whether I use paint on canvas, mix media or combine readymade objects. Chance, accidents, the interjection of the universe, all play a vital role in the creative process as well. I also like to transform banal objects and put them in a compositional context to create art. Art is the bread and the wine of the Eucharist.”

Which artists influence you most?

“There are a host of artists going back to the caves of Altamira and moving through the modern age. From Wassily Kandinsky to Gerhard Richter, Antoni Tapies, Marcell Duchamp, William Burroughs and so many other influential artists that have revolutionized and changed the way we perceive art. I love primitive art, children’s art, and outsider art, everything that is born from the heart of a people.”

“My work is a reflection of inner realities that comprise the spiritual as well as the objective world.”

What is your creative process like?

“My creative process is random and at times irrational. I proceed to the creative impulse at any given point and time. I don’t have preset rules but act to the call of the idea. The discipline is contemplation and execution. It is entering a meditative state of mind, where the communication with the medium is purely visual, shutting off the internal dialogue. I dive into the ocean of the subconscious, much like going into a blackhole, drawing information from the light of the event horizon, and transforming it into a visual work.”

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

“I cannot emphasize enough the vital role that artists play in society. Artists are the promoters and keepers of the cultural Arcanum; they tend and maintain the creative fire from within that Prometheus bestowed to humanity. The job of the artist is to explore the unknown realms of imagination and bring forth visions and images that transform into a work of art. Art transcends politics and history since it is timeless and mythical. Art is the reflection of the soul of humanity, it is the magic that keeps chaos at bay. Nowadays, much art has become more of a commodity and even a currency. We need to get back to the fundamentals and value art for what it is. The role of the artist is to take a serious look at our present situation and catapult society to an integral vision with the spirit of the universe.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“The most satisfying work that I have done is bringing the arts to communities at a grassroot level. I painted murals as part of the cultural movements of the time, working together with the youth of marginal communities. I introduced Andean music, sharing it with the native Pueblos of the South West. I was also instrumental, co-founder of a bi-cultural radio show for the University of New Mexico, which recordings are now at the Library of Congress. I want art to be part of our everyday life experience in any shape or form. We need to challenge ourselves beyond complacency in order to truly understand Art. I want my artwork to be affordable and accessible to all.”

 
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