Today we’d like to introduce you to Sergio Farfán.
Sergio, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Born and raised in Lima, Peru, I came to the United States at the young age of 7 and found myself having to learn the language and culture of a whole new world. All I knew was Spanish so I couldn’t communicate with my peers, who all spoke English, and had a difficult time adapting to my new home. I resorted to drawing because it was the only way I can escape, but also, make new friends. Art became a non-verbal language I used to connect with everyone while I progressively learned English.
As I grew more accustomed to my second home, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. My battle with these disorders took up half of my time in high school; however, my passion for drawing had saved me once again. Art has always been my coping method, even to this day. I couldn’t see myself pursuing any other career besides being an artist, while everyone else chose to pursue more “realistic” jobs like being a doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc. I believe in my talent and passion and I believe that being an artist will allow me to share my story and the stories of those who have also struggled, doubted, and achieved.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work explores the idea of innocence and the human conditions such as happiness, anxiety, depression, and playfulness which are relatable subjects that we all possess.
I utilize a wide range of mediums like spray paint, acrylic, and graphite all while integrating classical techniques with childlike sketches. My work is influenced by the genres of pop art, cubism, and urban contemporary art. The addition of phrases or words that I pull from the music and ideas that pop into my head aid in hinting at the overall conceptual idea of the piece. The way I compose the writing transforms into a code meant to be deciphered by the audience. The mark-making symbolizes emotion, from quick, anxious scratches to carefully placed, soothing strokes. Each piece contains multiple layers of different paintings and drawings, creating the foundation for my main focus.
“Kans” is the name of the characters I created. They represent the emotions I’m going through at the time. The use of horns and halos stand as a metaphor for the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, emphasizing how each one of us has a good and bad side. The common factor the characters share is that they reflect the masks we put on to hide our true feelings. Anyone can put on a façade and happy on the outside, but struggle with anxiety and depression on the inside. These are the stories I wish to tell and where I draw much of my inspiration from. At first glance, my artworks can have a very playful and nostalgic vibe but also have a very meaningful and serious undertone. The layers on the canvases reflect all the aspects of life we build up. Bumps, cracks, splatters, and drips are the stories that lay underneath the foundation of the person we become.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Financial struggle is definitely the most unfortunate side of becoming an artist and the thing that holds a lot of people back, but at the same time, I think it’s a need in this career. You learn and grow from it. If the path of becoming an artist was easy, the number of artists would double and everyone would want to be one. You always have to have a positive mindset even when nothing is going as planned while staying true to yourself. Ambition, determination, willpower, these qualities are needed to achieve that dream. So many young artists wait for something to happen instead of putting in the work and that’s what destroys them before anything else. If you want to be an artist, I recommend to work as much as possible. Paint, sell, promote, and don’t wait for a miracle. Trust me, if you work and stay passionate, money will follow. Thinking too much about the money will haunt you and make you stress which is the last thing an artist should do because you’ll get stuck and mass produce work just so it can sell. I know it’s scary to think, “How am I going to pay my bills?” but all I can say is risk it.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My website, www.sergiofarfan.com, is constantly being updated with new pieces and merchandise. People can sign up for my newsletter as well and learn more about any upcoming shows, events, and new work that I will be having.
The Zhou B Art center always has open studios on every Third Friday of every month, so anyone who is interested can stop by my studio to come chat and check out my work. If they can’t make it to my open studio, I have office hours and can schedule meetings with those who want to discuss more about what I do, learn about my work, and hang out.
I am also planning to host a preview show at the end of the year or early 2019 to exhibit my latest series, “My Beautiful Chaos”.
And of course, people can check my Instagram, @farfanart, and follow me to see sneak peeks of never-before-seen pieces and what I do besides my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: sergiofarfan.com
- Email: sergiofarfanart@gmail.com
- Instagram: farfanart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sergiofarfan720
- Twitter: serf720
Image Credit:
Zoe Rain
Ana Fuentes
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