We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sam DeRosa-Farag a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sam, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The artist as a creator is a project that resonates with me. We live in a society that values self-expression, But the nature of society is that few people really get their voice heard. Most of the individuals function as producers of work rather than ideas, we are more functional rather than working towards a conceptual objective. However, the richness of the human experience is encapsulated in the differences in perspectives, backgrounds and the complexity of emotion and ideas we experience. This project highlights this amazing perspective of individuals and is well expressed by artist, and performers. The objective is to start a dialogue among the viewers which is rather absent in society. While society is increasingly polarized, the human experience is very unifying. That is the ultimate objective of the project. Not to convince anyone of an idea of validity of a perspective, but to exchange ideas and be aware and appreciate the wonderful differences that make the human experience. When we start talking and communicating, we converge, get closer to deciding on what is the type and shape of society we want to have and live in.

Sam, 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?

I have always been very fascinated about telling a story, how it is presented and its meaning and objectives. Hopefully that would provide us with some perspective and insight. Not stating the matter-of-fact reality around us.  I also find the visual arts painting, photography, video, and cinema fascinating. The ability of bring to life a magnificent visual experience is intellectually inspiring and visually engaging. I have always been amazed and an admirer of 15th-18th century paintings, dramatic, symbolic, engaging, tell a story, have a message, and subtexts, use shadows, textures, colors …etc. and an amazing toolbox. Couple that with a wonderful composition to get to a rare outcome of a message that grabs and holds our attention, an almost impossible feat in modern life where attention spans are short and we do not focus on much. If an image, video …etc. can do that would be the beginning of bridging the gap of communication. From a commercial perspective it also addresses the challenge of how to have a unique message in a sea of similar happiness with no objective media saturation.

So, my work hopefully allows artists to express themselves, in a genuine and as a result unique approach and allows them to reach their audience with elegance and thought without having to be loud and over the top. I exhibit my work in galleries, curate a magazine, and write photographic books. The subjects are varied from artistic, dance, acting / character, emotional, architecture and food. What I am most proud of is when I work with a person, and they see themselves in a different manner that helps in their artistic journey. They love it and it helps them accept and like themselves. It is almost therapeutic. The process of formulating one’s thoughts and outlook. On life into images to be both, engaging, and genuine and a wonderful experience.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

My goal to have a positive impact on the people around me, have been able to foster a more thoughtful environment that results in understanding, compassion and a better society that communicates. I believe that can be achieved when we see the good and amazing in us and others, accept our shortcomings and flows and realize that is part of being human. above all – do no harm and make society a better place. It is what have

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Being an artist is the process of realizing how much we need other resources and talent to be effective and bring the vision to life. It is both knowing who you are, but also realizing that other artists can bring to the table and augment the results. Art is a social collaboration with amazing people and talent, find them, encourage them, and learn from them. While I started with the idea of a single person creator, I realized to bring subtle complexity you need a team of creatives. That is true in business, art, science it is always the team. In society there is the myth of the superhero, super artist, super scientist – the lone ranger. We are influenced by, enriched by and motivated by others. It is the collaboration.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sdfmedianyc

Image Credits
@sofi.fore96. – (image with teh orange fabric) @_sarapizzi_. (image withe the blue face paint @lalalalindsayy. (image with the white fabric) @juliettecharles_. (image with the blue hands and background) My image – geadshot with white background