I find freedom in the word “amateurism”. 

 

I adhere to its etymological sense to express my passion for creating art. Before fully immersing myself in the Visual Arts discipline, I used to qualify my art as amateur as a reflection of my lack of access to art materials and scholar resources. I found a sense of relatability and belonging during 2020, when the lockdown imposed onto global artists the challenge to be resourceful and creative with the limitations that came with scarcity. I embarked on my path as a visual artist with “sinfinamente” (2020), a short film shot on an old Android phone, documenting my interpretation of the survival instincts within capitalist society during the pandemic. The conceptual and aesthetic achievements of this zero-budget project made me realize that the term amateur merely characterizes my creative process, rather than defining the quality of my concepts or aesthetics.

My undergraduate studies in Interactive Media at New York University allowed me to perceive a change in the contemporary understanding of amateurism. I found that the values of this discipline are aligned with the principles of amateur art, encompassing aspects like exploration, experimentation, unconventionality, multimedia communication, and the preservation of one’s passions and identity. I aim to showcase these components in my portfolio, for instance, with “Transform” (2023), an animation and virtual performance. In this project, I draw upon the unfamiliarity and discovery process inherent in new media, specifically in rotoscope animation and motion capture, to document my personal exploration of gender and body expression. While I may not explicitly identify myself as an amateur artist, I find it the most fitting description to convey my intention of honoring the values that initially drew me to visual arts. It also elucidates my objective of promoting decentralized arts to contribute to the ongoing battle against social inequality and advocate for increased representation of marginalized communities.