Magic with Sonia Aguilar! Continuing our Interviews with OtE: 2nd International Latinx Performance Artists!
Xavier: How
would you describe your own performative work? What is performance art to you
and what about it motivates you to be a part of its rich history?
Sonia Aguilar: I
usually label myself as an obscure ritualistic performance artist.
For me, performance art is about the act of transmutation and creation, being
powerful enough to make the audience react in any form, or no form at all. My motivations are my darkest emotions, my
darkest senses, anything that I have always wanted to scream but haven’t dared
to. I create pieces with all my passion,
and I just share it with the audience, while encouraging others to create their
own art.
Xavier: Wonderful, can you
describe the performance that you will be doing with us? How does it fit into
the bigger picture of your work?
Sonia Aguilar: This
piece is powerful and meaningful to my artistic career right now. This is what
I want to do for the rest of my life, this kind of performance, showing the
cruelty, the sorrow, the love, the passion and beauty of living… This piece
marks an important peak in my constant evolution and adds new meaning to this
phase of my work/self. I can’t describe it because I want the audience to do
that for me and for themselves. Without saying a word, I know they can get more
of it, that is what makes my heart full.
Xavier: Going back to
childhood--what is your earliest memory of making something artistic--do you
think that there is any connection to what you do now?
Sonia Aguilar: I was
constantly discouraged by my mother not to dance, not to imitate any dancers or
singers, and she would dampen anything artistic. I was not exposed to any art in my house,
only music, some movies, but my family did not have the sense of art.
When I was in middle school, I
started getting fascinated in my history and art books. I had the same teacher
in two courses, and she was highly educated and the way she explained all the
artistic sides of the ancient cultures fascinated me, that was my first
encounter with artistic expression in person; but it was still something I
thought wasn’t meant for me. However, it spurred in me a great desire and I
started going to local museums, and getting into artistic movies as well, but I
never imagined I would be a performer at some point in life. My family is not
at all a fan of what I do, actually, I think they hate it or think I am an old
ridiculous crazy woman. And to be
completely honest, I love that!
But I do have to share that I have
a 10-year-old son and he is my biggest fan! He is always cheering for me, and
he thinks that what I do is rad and beautiful—at least for now!
I believe that your family,
friends and loved ones, have the right to hate and not support you. They should not support your art if they don’t
believe in it. That’s honesty, and I
don’t need them to love and support what I do, because to me, as long I am
happy and pleased with my performance work—that’s all that matters to me.
Xavier: I absolutely agree, 100%!
What things do you keep coming back to in your work--what are your greatest
obsessions?
Sonia Aguilar: Occult
art, rituals in all their forms, paganism, human roots, emotions,
transmutations, alchemy, energy, mysticism, unexplained forces…
Xavier: What do you consider your
greatest achievement and what are your goals for the future?
Sonia Aguilar: I
consider all my performances to be a big achievement! All of them have been a piece of my soul, for
the good and the bad. I would not change that! My goal is to keep doing this as
much as I possibly can, to keep learning, to get more training from other
teachers and artists and to inspire others along the way!
Xavier: Are there any
artists/performers who have inspired your work?
Sonia Aguilar: Hell,
yes! Too many to name all of them; but I will mention a few of the endless
lists of artists I admire and have somehow inspired me in one way or
another… Diamanda Galas, Mary Wigman, Tony Iommi, Rosaleen Norton, Marjorie
Cameron, Irma Serrano, David Bowie, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Jess Franco, Jean
Rollin, Carolee Schneemann, Aleister Crowley, just to mention a few…
Xavier: What projects do you have
lined up for the future?
Sonia Aguilar: I love
to go with the flow, I am always open to offers to perform at festivals and
events. So, whatever comes I embrace and
welcome. But I do have a project for some videos and other things of the sort that
is in talks, so we will see what happens.
Xavier: Do you believe in love?
What is your definition of magic?
Sonia Aguilar: I do
believe in love in many forms, art is a way of showing love, being capable of
expressing and dedicating your pieces to something or someone is a big
manifestation of love, being inspired to create is a big manifestation of love.
That's the love which saves me and makes me feel alive.
Magic is the art of transmuting energy and
using it in your favor.
Xavier: What do you consider your greatest artistic
achievement so far?
Sonia Aguilar: I
haven’t killed myself yet, so that is my biggest artistic accomplishment!
Xavier: As an artist, what is
your greatest fear?
Sonia Aguilar: No
longer enjoying other artists and forms of art. Art is everywhere and being
able to find it everyday is what makes my heart full.
Xavier: What is your greatest
hope?
Sonia Aguilar: I
haven’t thought about it, I don’t really like “hope.” It's like hanging in
there for a promise that hasn’t been made, something intangible that doesn’t
exist, I don’t live or believe in hope.
Xavier: Do you have a website/s
where people can learn more about you and your work?
Sonia Aguilar: I am
currently working on getting a new one! For now, just my Instagram
@thevelvetsonia
Xavier: Any last things that you
would like to talk about--anything?
Sonia Aguilar: I am
thrilled to be counted as a LatinX artist. We now have this wonderful space and
festival; we are part of this beautiful city and community and we are getting
stronger. Thank you to everyone for making this possible.
Xavier: Thank you so much for
your time and for being part of this festival, which I truly believe is an
important point in Seattle History.
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