Adrian Minakata

Artist Biography

My name is Adrian Minakata. I came from Mexico and moved to Canada when I was 8 years old. I’ve been making art since I was a kid and have recently gotten to span out into multiple art practices such as acrylic on canvas, Intaglio print making, and film photography. I think of art as a safe space for me, considering at first glance people would never think that of me. It’s a second life for me and that’s what I love about it art is truly for anyone.

Solitude

This six-image series was hand-printed on Ilford RC paper. It resembles a poem to me, with themes of isolation and solitude. To take these images, I went off on a drive with no destination and no plan and mentally isolated myself. When it came time for the actual prints, I pushed myself on how to express myself through them. I utilized the fixer in the lab so that my hand prints would not develop with the rest of the image and also scratched into the final print to give it the aesthetic I wanted. This turned out to be a very personal series to me as I feel it encapsulated who I was and how I felt at the time into a series of six pictures.

Artist Statement

I am inspired by expression through art. I love being able to feel the artist's emotions just by looking at their works through visual cues alone. Abstract and surreal art is a highlight for me as I believe it is the form that best encapsulates this feeling. Some relevant themes in my art are very expressive brush strokes and line work. I hope that people can feel me through my art and get an understanding of how I feel.