CM
interview by Jorge Perezchica
Artist Carlos Ramirez’s work is a multi-cultural mix of old and new, layered with socio-political ideas, street aesthetics and pop iconography. After many years of collaborating and receiving international recognition as part of a duo The Date Farmers, Carlos is now forging a new chapter as a solo artist. Whether it’s painting a mural, working on “From Dream to Reality” with filmmaker Max Joseph, introducing new a body of work at galleries, doing an Art Residency at BedStuy in New York, or creating EP cover art for DNCE, at age 51 there’s no slowing down for Carlos Ramirez.
Coachella Magazine: Tell us about yourself and your background as an artist.
Carlos Ramirez: I was born and raised in the Coachella Valley, Indio to be specific. Originally from Mexico, my parents were migrant workers that followed the agricultural routes and seasons up and down southern and northern California, and sometimes in different states. It was always a journey. They always encouraged my creativity for some reason. I’m a self-taught artist and have been making art for as long as I can remember. As a child, I went into the fields with my parents and drew on the side lines, as they worked throughout the day in places that I wasn’t allowed to work.
CM: What’s your earliest memory of making art?
Carlos: I remember mostly simple stuff, I was always trying to copy or redo cartoons I’d see Snoopy, Charlie Brown, that pirate or turtle drawing contest on the back of every magazine, or that stupid S you would find on all the school desks. Before the Internet, I spent a lot of time at the library looking up art from different cultures and different times. I remember drawing tons of African masks, Egyptian mummies and hieroglyphs, or redrawing paintings from Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe and other artists. It was quite the mess.
CM: How has your artwork evolved throughout your career?
Carlos: Working as a collaborative (The Date Farmers) reinforced my ability to harmonize, develop ideas and share feedback with someone other than yourself. Collaborating with someone who understands the same formula is always a plus. I’ve always tried to grow as an artist, so transitioning into a solo artist is no different. My journey will continue .
CM: You recently had a show, “Killing of a Ghost” at the Jonathan LeVine Projects gallery. Can you tell us about the artwork in that exhibit?
Carlos: I think that new work ‘killing of a ghost’ in New Jersey brought me to a different, new and uncomfortable place. As an artist, I felt an obligation to question many of today’s issues the best way I knew how, and comparing it in contrast to the social inequalities and social injustices that have taken place throughout America’s history. It seems we’re still fighting the same fight, like we’re trying to kill a familiar ghost.
CM: What did you work on at the BedStuy Art Residency in Brooklyn, NY?
Carlos: That work focused on and explored what hope, spirit and survival might look like symbolically or literally to the striving underdog in different cultures and societies around the world. I tend to champion the underdog.
CM: What inspires you about living in the Coachella Valley desert?
Carlos: What inspires me about living in the Coachella Valley is the very desert itself and how magical it can be. At a glance it seems barren and desolate. They say it gives you nothing, but quite the contrary. It’s full of life and can give you everything if you know where and how to look. Its thriving.
CM: Did you always want to be an artist?
Carlos: Yes, I made that conscious decision early on, and told myself I wanted to be an artist. I love what I do.
CM: How would you describe your art style or aesthetic?
Carlos: Describing my work in general terms has always been difficult. It would be easy to describe if I was always making the same piece over and over. Any artist would tell you that it’s a learning process. The day you can really describe your work is the day you’re done learning.
I leave it to the viewer. The work will speak for itself.
CM: Is there any advice you have for the next generation of artists?
Carlos: My advice is to explore and question everything, push your boundaries to the fullest, and never let what other people think stop you. Leave a message for those that are yet to come.
CM: A motto you live by?
Carlos: Stay positive, simple and true. Work hard, be good with people, and never give or take negative shit.
CM: Define compassion in your own words.
Carlos: Love, kindness, sharing, giving, selflessness, empathy, always lending oneself to those in need whether it be material or emotionally. I once complained I had no shoes, till I met a man who had no feet.
CM: Ultimate art project you dream about?
Carlos: A sculpture on the moon .
CM: What keeps you motivated/inspired as an artist?
Carlos: Life!!!
For more info: @c.ramirez2323
Watch the short film “From Dream to Reality”