Interview
Richard Fuertes
Richard F. Fuertes was born and raised in San Narciso Zambales Philippines. He loves to sing, dance, and play the piano. His healing with art is to express his deepest emotions, healing his wounded and traumatic experiences. Healing through art. Richard paints what comes from within. He sits down and when it comes it comes. He dedicates his artwork to the frontliners LGBTQ Community, mental health and people with disabilities. His artwork is his voice to stop the stigma, bullying, racism, racial discrimination and Asian hate. Hy talents are a gift from God to inspire, encourage, and to entertain.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey started when I was 17 years old, when my mom passed away and I suffered from severe depression. Creating art is my healing of my wounded emotions and traumatic experience. I express my deepest emotions to create beautiful art pieces. Art is my space and my sanctuary to know my self and to express my self. Expressing my true identity.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My artwork serves as my therapy to cope with everyday life challenges. Mental health is important and needs to be addressed and needs to managed by each person. It’s not your fault to have a mental health condition. People lose their lives through depression. Through personal acceptance, professional help, with love, patience, self care, understanding, empathy people with mental health conditions will live a fulfilling and meaningful life to enjoy and find purpose. Mental health is just as important as physical health and you are not alone.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“My artwork is pure self expression healing of my wounded emotions and traumatic experiences, and me coping with my everyday life to combat stress and anxiety. Through my healing art, I can reflect my inner self and accept my true identity and live a meaningful life. To inspire, encourage, and entertain. To God be all the glory.”
“My artwork serves as my therapy to cope with everyday life challenges.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“It’s all about my inner self expression to express my deepest emotions and express through my artwork. I do mixed media with thread painted with acrylic on canvas. From finger painting to different brush strokes. Creating beautiful artwork.”
What does your art mean to you?
“Art is my best friend where I am my self and accept my own identity. It is my sanctuary and express my different emotions from my frustration, happiness and triumph. Art is a gift from God.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“My favorite artwork is ‘The Lady in Tears’ mixed media made of cloth lace as a veil painted with acrylic on canvas. The artwork symbolizes the lady in tears who suffered of physical, sexual, mental abused. The veil symbolism of secrecy and protection. This artwork is in my personal collection.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My recent exhibitions include: “ Beauty in the Mind,” 2021; “ Expression,” 2022 and “Black and White,” 2023 at the Chesapeake Central Library 298 Cedar Rd, Chesapeake VA 23322, USA.”
Website: www.richardffuertes.com
Instagram: @richardf.fuertes
