| BARRIOZONA |
| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
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| INTERACTIVE |
| RUBÉN GALICIA Colors Without Any Rules |
| Interview and Images by Eduardo Barraza |
| Interview with Mexican Painter |
BARRIOZONA: How did Rubén Galicia begin
as an artist?
RUBÉN GALICIA: I began painting since I
was a child, because I liked to transform and
to create, but I never did anything seriously.
About seven years ago, I began to draw
and paint. I enjoyed it so much that I told
myself I would paint for the rest of my life,
and so be it I hope.
BZ: What do you try to express through
your paintings?
RG:Through my paintings I express human
feelings going from love, to sadness, to hate
as an artist?
RUBÉN GALICIA: I began painting since I
was a child, because I liked to transform and
to create, but I never did anything seriously.
About seven years ago, I began to draw
and paint. I enjoyed it so much that I told
myself I would paint for the rest of my life,
and so be it I hope.
BZ: What do you try to express through
your paintings?
RG:Through my paintings I express human
feelings going from love, to sadness, to hate
I also manifest in them the actions that we as human beings do against our planet and mankind.
BZ: Why do you use such vibrant colors in your creations?
RG: Latin American culture is rich in color. We use colors without following any rules, and we use them in our
homes, our clothing, and food, just to mention a few. It is part of our Latino soul; I personally believe color is in my
genetic code.
BZ: What is the underlying meaning of the symbolism in your paintings?
RG: As I mentioned before, I express feelings and emotions using symbols that I create, and I complement them
with images of our culture. At the same time, I try to give it a contemporary stroke, thus blending the ancient with
the new.
BZ: What are the challenges and advantages that you encounter as a Mexican artist in the U.S.?
RG; As an artist the challenge is with myself, to improve in each painting; advantages, there are many. People
perceive me in a different way; as a Mexican who is different. And just as a Mexican, no comment; one only has to
read the newspapers to find out what concept the majority of the Anglo people have about us. Not everybody has
a bad concept about us. I have many Anglo friends who appreciate me and who I appreciate.
BZ: Why do you use such vibrant colors in your creations?
RG: Latin American culture is rich in color. We use colors without following any rules, and we use them in our
homes, our clothing, and food, just to mention a few. It is part of our Latino soul; I personally believe color is in my
genetic code.
BZ: What is the underlying meaning of the symbolism in your paintings?
RG: As I mentioned before, I express feelings and emotions using symbols that I create, and I complement them
with images of our culture. At the same time, I try to give it a contemporary stroke, thus blending the ancient with
the new.
BZ: What are the challenges and advantages that you encounter as a Mexican artist in the U.S.?
RG; As an artist the challenge is with myself, to improve in each painting; advantages, there are many. People
perceive me in a different way; as a Mexican who is different. And just as a Mexican, no comment; one only has to
read the newspapers to find out what concept the majority of the Anglo people have about us. Not everybody has
a bad concept about us. I have many Anglo friends who appreciate me and who I appreciate.
| Rubén Galicia Vázquez. Mexican painter, born in Mexico City (April 10, 1967.) His mother is from the state of Guanajuato, and his father was from Mexico City . He is the second of five children: two brothers and two sisters. They came to the United States in 1986. Rubén Galicia ’s art displays aspects of Mexican culture, and projects as well a contemporary perspective of an emerging Latino art within the context of the Southwest. His paintings stand out for the richness and intensity of their colors. His pictorial work evokes dreams and metaphors in which both simple elements and enigmatic symbols are recreated, inspiring reflection and captivating the eyes. |