Meet Gabriela Gamboa: Visual Artist

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

Hi Gabriela, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
I think this is a perfect question for the year 2020, a year in which everyone has struggled, and I’m sure many  have considered quitting their profession -regardless of career or situation. To look towards the future has not been an easy task under these circumstances. We usually think careers in the arts are very tough anyway, not only in terms of stability, but also in terms of success, acceptance, economic possibilities and most artists go through periods of dissatisfaction and doubt, I’m sure. Personally, being an artist has not really been a choice, it is a need I feel, the desire to communicate my interpretation of the world, or life or current events and use it in a creative way. Nonetheless, I have had periods of less productivity and even had to ‘suspend’ my artistic production for almost 8 years, given the situation in Venezuela. But when you tap into the power of art in the face of hardship, art as the perfect medium and tool to build and sustain resilience, then I really found a purpose to what I do. This past year I knew I needed to connect to that part of my work immediately, I felt I had already had a lot of practice both with shelter in place and with isolation in Venezuela, for different reasons, but in essence, the same. The challenge this pandemic has imposed upon us all has been unique, but in a way, artists have an advantage: we are used to working alone, in our studios and most of the time we can find refuge and solace in our work. I used to question the need and the importance of art, but I think at times like these it becomes obvious, as we see how people of every walk of life look towards art – in all the manifestations- literature, cinema, music and visual art, to cope and heal. This is what keeps me going, it makes me get up in the morning and go to my studio. It makes me want to connect deeper with people. and hopefully the viewer will feel moved by what I make. That is important to me, to make that connection and for the viewer to perhaps look at the work and be moved, and be enticed to see things differently.

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 consider myself mainly a video artist -it is the medium I feel most at ease with. But I began studying painting. In my practice I use photography, performance and also printmaking to build installations. Perhaps what differentiates my work is precisely that I don’t adhere to a single medium. I would like to create experiences for the viewer, more than individual pieces of work. I love the possibility of sound and movement, so this is why I would prefer video over other mediums, the possibility of enveloping the viewer in an installation is really magical. It has not been easy at all to walk this path. In fact, it is a real pendulum, you never really “get” to wherever you are going!. One day you seem to be everywhere, the next no one knows who you are or what you do. In the 80’s and 90’s in Venezuela there was a lot going on in the visual art world. It was a fascinating and rpoductive time. Then political turmoil began and it got very complicated. Many of us felt the need to become more politically active and some knew how to translate that in to the work, others didn’t. And there were also actual practical and every day life challenges – real survival issues that became much mpore relevant, but we were incredibly supportive of each other. This was crucial. Then I had to leave my country and really start all over again. That is when you discover how much you need to express yourself and I learned it was necessary, in many ways, to continue to produce, to channel and also, to inform others of these issues. I think this is the basis of my work now, how universal our issues really are. If anything has become evident in 2020 is that the world is interconected and we need to work together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It’s a complicated time to speak about places to eat and drink, so I can’t really speak about that in specific terms. But there is quite a lot do outdoors because living near the ocean is the most wonderful part about Miami. Also, as an artist, I tend to recommend activities that have to do with ART! An ideal day begins with a walk by the sea, perhaps along Bal Harbour Beach, which is always lovely. Then a drive down Collins Avenue towards the Design District. It is really wonderful to just walk and look at all the unique architecture, very emblematic of Miami. Another wonderful thing is there are really great museums and galleries in Miami. The Museum of Contemporary Art in the Design District has the best of contemporary art always and currently has an appointment system that makes the visit unique. I also like to walk around Wynwood, where there are many great murals and of course, my studio, which is at The Bakehouse Art Complex, The Bakehouse is probably the main reason I am in Miami. I was mesmerized from the first time I went there. There are more than 60 individual artists’ studios. I was fortunate enough to be able to get a space. There is a strong artist community at the BAC. Then there is the Perez Art Museum of Miami, which is also near the water, so you not only see wonderful art within the Museum, but you can sit outdoors among the sculptures and have a nice iced coffee while enjoying the sun. Not far is the Freedom Tower, also an art museum, where I have seen some of the best exhibits ever. Another really funs place is the Lighthouse on Key Biscayne, a very lovely setting and a fun visit at sunset. It’s a wonderful time of the year now , too. The weather is so good for being outdoors. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
At this point in my life, so many people have influenced me and so much material has been important that it is hard to narrow it down. But I have to say Jean Marie Casbarian, who started out as my mentor in Grad School and now is a close friend, was quite influential and encouraging. When I got to Miami, intending to move soemwhere else, I was accepted at the Bakehouse and that determined that I stay here. I have found the most amazing group of artists and support from everyone there, especially my fellow artists Tonya Vegas and Maria Theresa Barbist. I have always been an avid reader, in fact the only thing I really brought with me from home where books. I have to say they influence me every day, specially poetry, which I need to read a bit avery morning. That is my ritual. Among my favorites are Anna Akhmatova, Muryel Rukeyser and Edda Armas, also a friend. In literature probably Murakami, Kundera, and Doris Lessing. And then of course there are loads of films, which as a photgrapher and vieo artist have marked the path, most notably Tarkovsky and Kurosawa, Wim Wenders and Wong Kar-Wei.

Website: gabrielagamboa.com
Instagram: @gabagambo
Twitter: @gaba_gambo
Other: vimeo: gabagambo

Image Credits
Foto of Gabriela Gamboa by Pedro Wazzan All images of my work: Gabriela Gamboa