Chapter 3: Marcelo Villaseñor
Marcelo holds one of his stickers created for the “Say Hello” project
Narratio interviewed visual artist and digital marketer Marcelo Villaseñor, Mexico. He often combines photography, drawing and design to “tell stories about the issues behind the art” in an attempt to create a ripple effect. Marcelo explained how he is creating art to catalyze conversation and bring attention to the different communities around him.
Now living in Austin, Texas as a recent graduate, Marcelo wants to dedicate his time to create artwork benefiting non-profits, collaborating with fellow artists and continuing a blog tracing his thoughts on life and work. Many of his pieces reflect a strong relationship with the environment, mindfulness and cultural heritage. Marcelo has recently partnered with the Say Hello project in Austin, Texas fighting, “marginalization of the homeless through education and engagement”. Readers can find previously published works by Marcelo in Narratio’s art submissions.
How has sharing your visual art and stories helped you to communicate your thoughts? What message do you want to spread?
The message of love. Inspiration in the sense of: spirituality, introspection, empathy, knowledge, and compassion.
[My art] has helped in honoring my Mexican and pre-Hispanic influences, while also not sticking to one identity to create my own. My first sticker I did for a class project [a golden eagle intertwined with a bald eagle] . In the past I was exploring a lot into my identity. I created it as a way to appreciate the Latinos around me. I try and give them to Mexican- American people I encounter as a way to create a community. It's such an important factor, this aggregated value.
I am also practicing “no identity” in not clinging or attaching to anything that could limit me or intervene in my energy.
“As a Mexican who is passionate about art, one of the things that I have always loved to appreciate are the prehispanic figures, shapes, colors, and overall style.”
Prehispanic Art - More Here
Say Hello Sticker
You’re most recent collaboration is with an organization called Say Hello, focused on aiding the homeless community in Austin. Why do you think it’s important to have your art connected to a conversation about marginalized groups?
“Beyond art, there is a conversation. I feel the root problem of everything are values. By creating conversations and values from the ground up, we can take a more holistic approach. Being conscious about nature, other people, our surroundings. What I want, and I invite people to do, is to use the sticker to spark a conversation”.
The Say Hello sticker has imagery representing a “hopeful planet earth from the future so connected within that it radiates a presence and message to outer space”. Marcelo encourages people to communicate with each other and expresses, “We are stronger together”. By including educational articles on his blog, Marcelo also invites his audience to propagate change by understanding the issues behind the art.
What kind of challenges have you faced as an young artist?
At one time, my creative quota was very open…It was only about publishing finished work. August 1st, I started writing a blog post every week and a related drawing with each reflection.
Plant Trees Together Sticker
Do you have any advice for other young artists and storytellers?
[Laughing] I think cliche quotes are sometimes very true. They do have fruit to them and more truthful than what we think. There’s a quote in Spanish my friend always repeats, “Si hay pasión, no hay opción”.
My father was a merchant…at first, I failed a lot at selling. By focusing on the outcome I lost traction so fast. As soon as you don’t see the results, you lose your source of energy. It takes time and effort. If your goal is to make money, then don’t. Or if it revolves around the numbers, then don’t. To create the conversations is my goal.
Narratio Interviews
Highlighting young storytellers using their work to educate and empower those around them with the belief that we are “united by our differences as much as we are by our similarities”
