Mutations

Artist Statement

Mutations & Spiritual Representations

By George Rivera, Ph.D.

My present art references images found in the subconscious mind. Subconsciousness is located between the Unconscious and Consciousness. It lies below the surface of consciousness and has its own reservoir of images that try to make sense of the visible world. I refer to these images as “Mutations” because they represent the mind's initial attempt to interpret the world. Consequently, these images do not resemble consensual reality and appear as unrecognizable figures. In essence, my work reflects an “inner gaze.”

Though I initially called these images “mutations,” their essence is better understood as spiritual representations of the visible world. The theories of Wassily Kandinsky and Joseph Beuys inform my artwork because they were deeply embedded in the spirituality of art. They believed that one could hear or see the spirituality in people and objects. In addition, they were both familiar with shamanism. In fact, Beuys viewed himself as a shaman and believed in the expanded view of art that included “social sculptures” — art created in activities with others to transform and heal society.

My ethnic background as a Mexican American includes an indigenous belief system of health and illness known as “curanderismo,” which is closely related to “shamanism.” The Aztecs viewed plants as having spiritual qualities and used “cochineal” (a red dye derived from insects that lived on cacti) to decorate pyramids and other sacred sites. Recently, I was introduced to inks made from plants found in the Amazon Rainforest. I presently use these indigenous inks exclusively.

In my artmaking, I have combined my ethnic background as a Mexican American with an art theoretical basis to produce art that uses plant based inks to create subconscious images that reflect spiritual representations.