Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Miranda.
Vincent, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Growing up in the South, I was exposed to many idiosyncrasies that are unique to this region. As I relocated and made my way through art school, I found myself constantly referencing these traits which are specific to the South, in particularly those that make up the culture surrounding Southern Hip Hop. Eventually, this evolved into the focal point of what my artistic practice consists of today.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Comin from down south, you notice it’s got a different vibe; that southern drawl. There’s this mood that pervades Southern hip-hop; this lethargic, slow moving, sedated feeling. From this culture, I’m questioning the allure of pharmaceuticals like Actavis’ promethazine w/ codeine, the drink Lean, and the influence it has in transforming the music to match its effects.
This feeling permeates into my work as well. When you enter the space, you’re presented with lackadaisical hanging silicone skins, walls that seem to be sagging or melting, and shelves hung at drastic angles: everything is Leaning. The space lends itself to an understanding of that Act, that need for self-medication, that Lean; the space is sympathetic to that sluggish feeling going on. Not totally having a hand on the gravity of the space while not being able to explain the perception at play.
I’m also exploring the “come up”; the need to present yourself as having made it, having come up out of where you came from. I’m curious how this resonates in objects and gives certain symbols power; curious of the manner in which these symbols are displayed or presented.
By presenting these skins and implying the body, I introduce another means to suggest idiosyncrasies I recall from down South. I’m interested in the coding of a gesture; how, if you’re not from this place, you won’t know what I’m implying when I wave my wrist around or pull my lip down to show off my teeth, you know.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Be nice, courteous and say thank you to everyone you come in contact with. On your journey to build your artistic career, you ‘will’ see people over and over again. The better relation you have with these people, the more inclined they are to give you chances and opportunities to as you grow and mature artistically.
Other than that, I would just suggest to trust your gut. There have been so many times when I’m trying to work on a piece and fix this one thing that isn’t sitting well with me, and I always find myself going back to that first choice that peaked my interest in the beginning. Then that part of the piece will turn out to be the strongest. Basically, trust your instinct; this is what makes an artist’s work true to themselves.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Right now, my website and Instagram, where I’ve been posting a lot of process shots. I’m showing most of my work in San Francisco and the Bay Area, where I’m currently receiving my masters (California College of the Arts). I am in the process of setting up a show in South Florida for some time in 2019. Follow @vincentmiranda_ for updates on that.
Contact Info:
- Address: Fort Lauderdale, FL / San Francisco, CA
- Website: vincentmirandaart.com
- Email: vincentmirandaart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @vincentmiranda_
- Facebook: facebook.com/vincent.miranda
Image Credit:
Dave Beeman
Christian Barajas
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