Meet Cesar Aguilera: Data-A Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cesar Aguilera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cesar, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
As an artist, risk has been at the center of what I do, I never liked the idea to settle down in a box/style, creating what the market/galleries want. To me art has been a tool for solving life problems, and every problem requires a different approach. So my artistic life has been a process of experimentation, exploration, adapting, collaboration and assimilating. This has led me to experiment with many styles/mediums in order to be able to create art according with the subject/problem I wanted to tackle, which has left me with a big array of tools in my art belt. But taking these risks might seem like my artwork is inconsistent, as some art establishments would say, but if you look at the bigger picture, the consistency in my work is the common denominator of preservation of life and ways to achieve it. Creating art this way has made each day an adventure, and had made me appreciate every life in this planet so much more,

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an artist, founding member of Artsemble Underground, art curator at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, Florida, founder of Paionia Couture specializing in wearable art made from discarded materials. As a Data-A Artist, what sets me apart from other artists is the approach to art. Art is a tool to merge the big gap between human nature and Nature. A gap that is bringing us to the edge of extinction. I’m proud to be doing this and excited to bring other artist on board to see the power they have with their art. The road to where I am at this moment wasn’t easy, I wanted to create change in the injustices I saw around me, I wanted to contribute to make a better world, not just for humans but for all types of life, and I wanted to inspire others to see the value in all types of life forms. The challenges are still big, as monetary value is more important that the life value in our society. But it wasn’t until I met Tiite Baquero and Data-A that I lernt the power that art has in creating change and making a difference. since then the road has been easier but not easy. Today as the curator of a big art institution I have the chance to inspire other artists the same way, to show them the power they have as artists and the difference they can make in this world. With Artsemble Underground I’m able to bring art outside the galleries and in direct contact with the people, creating art projects that affect directly the community and having the community involved with these projects also teach them the power of art. What I want is to be able to collaborate with more artists and people in a bigger scale, solving more problems that threaten our existence in a creative way. Time is running out.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Swfl has some hidden treasures outside the tourist routs. So lets say somebody arrives on Thursday, to start on a good note we will go for late lunch to San Luis Cuban cafe, where we will have time to catch up and enjoy some really good Cuban food. then off to downtown Fort Myers to enjoy some live music at room 86 and check other places that offer live music. On Friday is off to Art Walk again in Downtown Fort Myers, since I’m the curator at the SBDAC I will give a private tour of the 2 galleries and then enjoy the art around town. Saturday a tour of Murals on Tour, created by Love your Rebellion and Artsemble Underground, where 4 artists created murals on vinyl that is displayed in different locations through Swfl. Sunday will be a tour of the manatee sculpture project on Sanibel Island. Monday to a secret artsy place in Naples, Live Art, to experience impromptu session of live music and painting. Tuesday a tour of the murals I’ve created with Artsemble Underground, from Cape Coral to Labelle. And Wednesday probably an easy day at home, with some home cooking and showing the studio and art projects around here, and getting ready for the fly home. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A big shoutout to Tiite Baquero, for his mentorship and encouragement. Without his teachings and patience, my art and me would not be what we are today.

Website: www.cesaraguilera.com
Instagram: @czr6
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cesar.aguilera.art
Other: www.sbdac.com Facebook @paionia.couture @artsembleunderground @SBDavisArtCenter Instagram @artsembleunderground @paioniacouture