Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Peru Dyer Jalea aka PERU143. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Peru, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Aside from all the meaningful community projects I’ve worked on around the world for the past couple of decades, what tends to be more impactful on the mind is my art being in outer space. To be able to harness the energy I’ve been building for so long and have it parked among the stars is something to sit with.
Peru, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Peru is an internationally recognized Peruvian-Canadian muralist, installation & graphic artist whose practice is informed by digital and traditional art forms and his 25 years of painting graffiti. Peru’s work aims to heal, inspire and uplift people’s spirits by transforming neglected and often oppressive spaces into safe, playful, and imaginative worlds. A proponent of the ‘Graffuturism’ movement, much of Peru’s artistic energy today is dedicated to bridging and advancing the traditions of graffiti and mural art, as points for dialogue, exchange and connection. Ultimately, his higher purpose as an artist is to create works that communicate the need to rise above our differences by understanding the interconnectedness of all living things.
Peru’s work seeks to heal division by inspiring place-based personal and communal introspection through the contemplation of vibrant and colourful shapes that seek to reawaken the inner child by opening hearts to curiosity, possibility and play. Through this openness, connection, belonging and imagining a more sustainable and equitable world become possible.
Ultimately, his purpose is to encourage social change in the form of consciousness-shifting works of art – to create works that communicate the need to rise above our differences by understanding the interconnectedness of all living things.
Inspired by his Latin American culture, Peru has painted murals and exhibited his work internationally for over two decades. His murals and work have been shown throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, but he began his career in Canada after moving here from Peru at the age of 16. He has collaborated with brands like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Disney, Nike, Adidas, Starbucks, and Cirque du Soleil to name a few. His commercial work allows him to balance his work with municipalities, institutions, festivals and non-for-profit, grass-roots organizations, which make up most of his portfolio and which he holds dear to his heart.
He continues exploring these themes between Toronto & Montreal where he lives with his beautiful wife and twin children.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I moved provinces (Canadian states) and had to reestablish myself in a new City from Montreal to Toronto. In the process of job searching I manifested a long time wish to learn how to woodwork by landing a job as a Lead Display Artist. For 6 years I ran a couple of stores in Toronto and opened a few others across Canada as well as the largest store in New York City. I developed my woodworking skills by making furniture for a variety of stores, I learned how to wire lighting and install complex structures, I created elaborate award winning window displays, and I learned how to manipulate everything from metal and plastic to tie-dye and macrame. In retrospect, aside from the social & bureaucratic aspect of the job, I quite enjoyed the experience. Not only did I acquire a valuable skill I always wanted to have but I gained the confidence to take on any challenge head on while establishing myself in a new place. Once I was up and running with my mural career I was able to follow a parallel path doing installations for music festivals and even an international installation pop up shop run my Amex where I was able to combine my old skills with many of my new ones in a very successful interactive experience.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Aside from my aim to heal, inspire and uplift peoples spirits, I do have the ambitious goal to create a single work of art that communicates the need to rise above our differences by understanding the interconnectedness of all living things. I believe that this feeling or knowing that all living things are intertwined would further develop our empathy for each other, and those less fortunate in particular, creating a more compassionate and equitable world to live in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peru143.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/peru143
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peruonefourthree
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peru143/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Peru_143
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/peru143
- Other: https://foundation.app/collection/abstractalphabet NFT PROJECT
Image Credits
Olivier Bousquet