Unveiling the Soul of Art: An Interview with Compasssssion
In the vibrant realm where the streets of Mexico City echo with tales and surreality, we find the artist known as Compasssssion. Born in Toronto, Canada, in 1978 to a Canadian mother and a Mexican father, Compasssssion, has been calling Mexico City home since 2005, where the rich tapestry of daily life fuels his artistic expression. In the bustling streets of Mexico City, he discovers his greatest inspirations.
I’m inspired by things that we normally overlook... there is great learning where normally we wouldn’t allow ourselves a glimpse outside of our social circles and environs.
The Alchemy of Creativity:
Compasssssion’s creative process is a blend of dreams and wakeful contemplation. Ideas born in the depths of the night, often fueled by dreams or thoughts that linger upon awakening, find their way onto paper. Only a fraction of these ideas materialize, but each one is a connection to his subconscious. Influenced by his mother's advice, he focuses on creating compositions that invite viewers to explore every inch. He draws inspiration from diverse sources, including Caravaggio and childhood comic books like Ralph Snart and Crumb, creating a unique fusion of influences.
Symphony of Sounds:
Music plays a pivotal role in Compasssssion's day. Starting with classical tunes during a morning chess game with his father, he finds harmony in the synapses firing off. Russian composers and Glenn Gould are favorites. Later in the day, Radio Alhara provides a sense of long-distance solidarity amid challenging times.
Well-being and Community Connection:
For Compasssssion, well-being is intertwined with community connection. He emphasizes the importance of being supported by and supporting one's community, transcending economic status, age, and race.
Technology as a Tool:
Viewing technology as a tool, Compasssssion believes it can aid creation but emphasizes the importance of bringing a personal touch. He expresses concerns about the rise of censorship through algorithms, hindering artists who wish to challenge accepted norms and speak about vital societal issues.
I've been shadow-banned several times, for saying what I want to say, but I refuse to be a mouthpiece for the corporate-ruled world, that's a world I want less and less to be a part of. Technology is a tool, but it is up to each creator to bring something to life, otherwise, things can look/feel very manufactured, groomed, too perfect. I still haven’t seen more than a couple of great things that have come from AI for example… Most of the work looks very pristine and lacks a heart…
A Call for Unity and Activism:
Sharing a deeply personal perspective, Compasssssion reflects on his political upbringing in Nicaragua, familiar with the atrocities committed by the US-funded Contra.
I am political because I marched against imperialism and continue to do so no matter how vilified revolutions or new systems of thinking will be in the mainstream corporate media. As artists we have to and must continue to raise the alarm on injustices committed by powerful nations and social media and we must stay united and exert our power in numbers (in community) or else it will be easier for them to separate us… El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!
Varied Reactions and Humbling Encounters:
He recounts interesting reactions to his work, from one person feeling a sense of home to another expressing a desire for less social commentary and more focus on a specific subject, ( asking me to specifically paint more boobs, lol).
We'd like to thank Compasssssion for joining us today, to share his journey as an artist unveiling not only the intricacies of his creative process but also the depth of his connection to community, his political convictions, and social commentary. Art, for Compasssssion, is a living, breathing entity, inviting us to see the world through his unique lens.
