We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vannessa Circe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Vannessa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I have been working on an initiative called Unbounded World since the year of 2015, with the purpose of strengthening conscious understanding and balance by communicating cultural and environmental themes through art, science and writing. We aim to help ensure preservation and fairness in the treatment of the natural world and of indigenous cultures.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Hola!
I am Vannessa, an artist from Colombia. my experiences overcoming challenges in life and in following my passions of travel, culture, nature and creativity, have led me to want to share the power of art and purpose with the world.
I think of art, at least for myself, as both a personal therapy and a deep way of sharing information with the world. My paintings range from expressions of feeling and personal experience to informative and deeply spiritual representations of complex and beautiful cultures I have come to know.
Since I was a very young girl, I have used my art as a form of meditation and release. I grew up in challenging circumstances in Bogota, Colombia. Many things caused me hurt and struggle, but I always had my art to help me overcome challenges.
When I was 17 years old, I left Bogota to travel by motorcycle and connect with the diverse cultures and beautiful nature of South America. This trip inspired so much growth and creativity. Since then, I have continued traveling in the United States and other parts of the world, communicating lessons learned from these profound experiences and supporting myself along the way, through my art.
Over the past six years, I have been studying the histories, traditions and natural territories of Indigenous communities from Colombia, as part of a project that I Co-Founded with my partner Daniel Rasolt, called Unbounded World. The communities we work with have not just taught me about themselves, but also about myself, and I try to bring this deep feeling of inner and greater purpose into my art.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Often my paintings are inspired by real stories, both from my life, and the lives that have touched my own. These stories principally come from extensive world travels and the resulting intimate experiences that were had with different cultures and pristine nature.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
I think everyone, especially in a modern “fast-paced” and “consumer” society can learn a great deal from the people that live in true unity with their land. My artwork is meant to reflect and communicate those beliefs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vcirce.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/v.circe/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/VCirce/
- Other: https://twitter.com/UnboundedWorld7 https://www.facebook.com/UnboundedWorld7 https://www.instagram.com/unboundedworld7/
Image Credits
Headshot: Peter Byatt
Additional Photos: Vannessa Circe