Artist Ciler was one of 12 Mexican artists featured in our recent Cinco de Mayo exhibition. His debut release Mala Influencia or bad influence in English, reminds viewers that even the crooks and cartel in Mexico grow out of a family tree. Read on as Ciler gives us a quick glimpse behind his debut edition, which was hand-crafted in Detroit with 1xRUN Master Printer Jonny Alexander…
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, anything immediate you would like us to highlight?
Ciler: Basically, the piece is trying to talk about the bad influence families can generate on us. Most of my work is developed in that way, a social-critique like way, a joke about the life we live nowadays.
1x: What materials were used to create this piece ?
Ciler: I found the photograph in a Life magazine from the 70’s, and I did an intervention over it with black ink and acrylic paint. For the serigraphy version, the image was scanned and retouched in order to make the print.
1x: When was the piece created and how long did it take to complete?
Ciler: It was made this year (2015), thinking of the Detroit Cinco de Mayo show. It took me about two days working on it.
1x: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Ciler: In Mexico, the majority of crooks and cartel members are brought up by the predeceasing generations. I thought it was important to touch that subject in my work, and not just talk about the folkloric side of my country, because we live in a deadly chaos so vivid, we can easily find a deceased body waking around the corner.
1x: What is unique about this piece compared to your other work?
Ciler: Well, I think every piece is unique in it’s way, because I never repeat the photograph or image that I choose, while keeping the concept simple and strong at sight, that’s how I create my work, I don’t like when the spectator has to read a text about the piece. I like them to develop their own version of my work.
1x: Why should people buy this print?
Ciler: It is the first serigraphy piece I’ve made with 1xRUN and I think it’s a quiet elegant limited print, and I don’t usually make prints like these. about the 1xRun: Describe this piece in one gut reaction word.
1x: Describe this piece with one gut reaction word.
Ciler: One harsh worldly reality.
1x: Where else can people find you?
Ciler: Instagram@Ciler – Twitter@cil3r – Tumblr – Behance
-1xRUN