Minga Opazo currently resides in Ventura, emigrating from Chile a decade ago. Her mixed media work consists mostly of prints and textiles, as well as wood burning, paintings and drawings. Dominga’s greatest inspiration, and often the subject of her art, is the natural world seen through the lens of her childhood. Drawing inspiration from her native Chile and incorporating elements from her new serein coastal home, Dominga is a fine artist and innovator, graduating from UC Berkley in 2016 with a B.A. in Fine Art.
Statement
Repetition,... of the same movements, and the same set steps..... Repetition is the core of my practice. It begins with an idea followed by experimentation which is then followed by research. From there, the process is narrowed down to a few single movements, repeated until I have created a final piece. The size of the work may vary, the colors and materials may vary, but this basic repetitive process is intrinsic to what I create. This practice reflects my experience growing up in the countryside of Colina, Chile where in local agriculture, I witnessed a poetic repetition of the same actions and interactions with the natural environment. As a child, I admired the meditative and repetitive work that the farmer did in tending to his farmland. I believe that this experience instilled in me the values of discipline and commitment which is such an integral part of my art.
My work is also influenced by my heritage, my identity, and the natural world as I see it. One of the crucial evolutions of my identity was immigrating to the United States as a non english speaking fifteen year old, which wove together in me the cultures of Chile and the US. As a young adult I still feel very connected to my Chilean roots and as I continue to visit Chile I see more and more of the environmental and social issues affecting the country and how they connect to the rest of the United State and the rest of the world. Much of my work incorporates the intersection between my developed culture, the landscape of my childhood and often the environmental issues tying it all together.
Most Recently I have been experimenting with outdoor installations and the different challenges and opportunities that come with it. I am inspired to share my work with those that would not normally see or interact with art and I’m interested to see how an audience experiences my art in a non-formal setting outside the white walls of a Gallery space. My latest outdoor installation is made of raw natural fibers from Chile which I’ve woven into found objects in my local environment such as weathered wooden fences. Working outdoors, especially by the seascape, means that these pieces will change, erode and decompose rather quickly, introducing the component of time into my work. Working with outdoor installations has been powerful and motivating and I'm excited to see where it leads.
