Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lucha Rodríguez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Lucha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
At 16 years old I took the risk of coming to the States to pursue art. I was a high schooler in Venezuela where I was born and raised, and I had big dreams of speaking fluent English, sharing my artwork with others, and being part of the art scene. I had a master plan binder with lists of scholarships, colleges, funds needed, and a pocket Spanish/English dictionary, which was my most precious possession then. I received so many rejection letters until one day I received THE letter that completely changed my life. Every step of the way was an adventure, every email I would send out in English took me forever to write but was so worth it. I trusted the power of google translate and double-checked with my pocket dictionary just in case for words I didn’t understand. To be honest I was deeply grateful to have the opportunity to figure out how to even reach my destination. I just threw myself into this dream, talked about it, and did everything I could each day to make it my reality. I have received so much support from my family and friends, then from other students, artists, gallerists, professors, landlords, kind baristas, and so many people I have met in my journey without them I wouldn’t be able to make art every day as my main source of income. I came to the States with my backpack, one piece of luggage, and my broken English but I kept going and keep going keeping the art dream alive. I have Lucha Pink now can’t believe it’s my art studio, pink walls, and all open for business and in continuous support of the arts. I’m still learning English but I promise there has been major improvement since I first moved here.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Ever since I was little my hands have gravitated towards making things. After graduating college, I have kept a consistent art practice. I create small works and large-scale site-specific works on paper. The color pink is an anchor for the work and it is ever present in most of my collections.
I stay curious and open to new ideas and opportunities to share with others. I have this belief that creating art that invites slow looking and evokes a sense of closeness can inspire others to notice things they haven’t noticed before, and maybe just maybe enjoy the little things a little more.
I find inspiration pretty much everywhere. During my morning walks, breathing deeply, holding a warm cup of coffee, looking out my studio window, and just experiencing and reflecting on life. I am fascinated by the way we can perceive so much around us if we intentionally focus on something and at the same time we have so many preconceived notions of what we think is going on, or how things are that we can ignore what’s actually going on in front of us. Our perception and state of mind, how much information we gather and process, and how we process it is so intriguing to me.
The main body of work at Lucha Pink consists of “knife drawings”. A fusion of image, surface, and material. Not just ink or pencil on paper but altering the paper itself to create the lines, shading, and color. A single sheet of paper that after being manipulated could bring you back to the room, the lighting conditions, and your physical proximity to it. Something that would help you connect to the present moment again and again while you read its surface, find patterns, colors, and spaces in between. There’s always so much more to be experienced if we continue to question how we do, see, and perceive things. Even a single sheet of paper can surprise us and become an object for contemplation, calm, curiosity, and wonder.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that I keep coming back to the studio through ups and downs. Starting something new, not letting self-doubt get the best of me or my ideas. Understanding that research, writing, creating, and thinking takes time. It’s challenging to keep it simple but still complex and I constantly search for that balance in my work.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
To me, it’s all about connecting with others. Art can encompass an entire experience of being present and alive at a specific moment in time. It is exciting to share your experience with those who are open to it, no matter if you have the same spoken language or not. There is a universality that can be achieved through the arts that transcend geographical and language barriers. There is so much depth to it, you can infuse your feelings, ideologies, background, history, past, present, and future if you so desire. You can comment on anything or simply make others question why things are the way they are. Art makes you think, reflect, dissect, and explore your humanity. As a curious person, I find it irresistible. You keep digging, and learning, and more questions arise you share with others, learn from your interactions and continue to make work.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Yes, I want people to slow down, take their time to observe, and be present. Life can get busy and go at a fast pace very quickly and we miss so much of the little things. It can be hard to clear our minds because there’s so much to do. I find that it is extremely beneficial to intentionally come back to the room we are in and look up, down, and around us, just for a moment because there is a sense of calmness that will arrive if we experience our surroundings even just noticing the reflection of our own shadow just for a few seconds could help you open up and find a solution to your problem or perhaps remind you of a happy memory. Hitting pause can be just the thing you needed. So my work is meant for slow looking and bringing you back to experience the present moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://love-lucha-now.org/
- Instagram: @luchapink