Today we’d like to introduce you to Oscar Gomez.
Oscar, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I started documenting things at a really young age. I have distinct memories from childhood trips to México where I would play around with my dad’s camcorder at rodeos – I would record the bull riding for him so we could watch them later. In general, there was a consistent pattern throughout my childhood of me using my parents’ cameras, or whatever I could get my hands on, to photograph anything and everything. It kind of became my thing, my family started to hand me it without me having to ask. In high school I realized that photography was an actual art, and I took every class offered so that I could learn how to use the different editing programs and camera functions correctly. I didn’t take it seriously as a profession though, I was just doing it for fun and as a creative outlet. When I was in college I was hit with the typical existential crisis every kid is hit with: what now? photography was what I felt most passionate about, and here we are now.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a photographer/ sometimes videographer, I like all mediums but right now I’m primarily working with digital format – I find it to be really accessible and adaptable to all environments. I try to bring my camera everywhere with me. I hate missing an opportunity to properly document something.
As far as my influences, I don’t really find myself being influenced by any photographers in particular. I think focusing on other people’s work is often detrimental to one’s own work. I’m much more influenced by the things I experience and the interactions I have in everyday life. I always feel really inspired during my trips to México, my family is from a small town in the state of Morelos, and it’s a goldmine for inspiration. The bull riding, I used to record for my dad as a kid still draws me in, and I try to find a different way to capture the culture every time I’m there. When I’m there I start to think about the fact that despite it being the kind of small town where everyone knows everyone, every single person I interact with has a story I know nothing about, and they all interact with their environments in different ways. My work is definitely influenced by these human relationships with each other and with their environments. That intrigues me because I have trouble interacting with others sometimes. I think that’s why I think about it so much. I’m also inspired by other things like the architecture I see in the city, organic things found in nature, music, and the sky – especially the sky.
When people look at my work I want them to feel compelled to explore their own world. There are so many things left to be discovered, and we’ll never experience them if we sit on our ass all day. That’s what I want my work to do to people: compel them to step out of their boxes. Whether that be exploring their own neighborhood with different perspectives or going somewhere new.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Knock yourself out of your comfort zone It’ll help you to think differently. Always be willing to learn.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work’s going to be in a show on October 19th at C.C.s Art Garage (2727 S Mary St, Chicago, IL 60608). I hope to show some new things I’ve been working on recently, come through to check it out. I’m working on being much more active and participating in shows, I hope to put my own together in the near future as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: oscarphotog@gmail.com
- Instagram: Ninetydgrees
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