With the internet being so easy to access, it has become easier for independent artists to find an audience and let their work be known. As a result, a variety of movements, collectives, and scenes have found a way to pave their path. The independent art scene in Puerto Rico is no different. Recently, many artists from a variety of disciplines have found platforms that have made it easier for them to share their work. In addition, small businesses such as Electroshock in Santurce and Rio Piedras, bars like Off The Wall in Mayaguez, book stores like La Casita Books and Gifts in Aguadilla, Libros AC in Santurce and Libros 787 online, and independent festivals like Feria de Libros Independientes y Alternativos and Tintero: Festival de Cómics y Arte Independiente de Puerto Rico have provided up-and-coming artists a space to display their talents. “Puerto Rican Women Killing It in the Independent Art Scene” is a series of interviews that provides a glimpse at some of the women who have recently gained recognition in the art scene. Though the artists are asked similar questions, some are asked queries surrounding their work, specifically.
Ilia Marina Collazo Malavé, more commonly known as Cena Collazo, considers herself a illustrator and painter. Most of her art are paintings either in watercolors or acrylic, but lately it has translated into digital art.
What got you into the visual arts?
Funny story, I started my Bachelor’s degree at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In that time, my focus was inside the field of fashion design and I ended up graduating in that department, but in my studies I started creating illustrations based on my fashion work. The time came when these drawings and sketches became entire paintings and images. I guess that’s when it all started, back at 2013.
How did you develop your style?
My style, like I mentioned, started back when I was studying fashion and felt a need to illustrate images. I found myself going through pictures in magazines, social media and the internet, and started drawing them in a sketchy-like style. Immediately, I felt attracted to all the lines and how they played an important role in creating a strong image. Across the years and constantly creating the lines, my signature white eyes became a trademark in my art.
How has it developed through the years?
Slowly, my art has improved in technique. These past five years, I’ve introduced my style into different techniques, sizes and spaces. This has been a way for me to expand my knowledge and transform my work.
What are some of your influences and inspirations?
I’m easily inspired by images. What I tend to call images are photographs, drawings, banners, fashion magazines and social media pictures. Part of my creating process is based on this constant image seeking through different platforms, which I later manipulate through sketches involving my style of drawing and creating my own art out of them. Other great inspirations are artists I look up to that may or not influence my art style. Some of them are James Jean, Gerardo Cloquell, Sofia Maldonado, Ana “anamarietta” Maria and many more.
Is there any other form of art you wish to pursue? If so, what field and why?
There is two answers to this question. First, I would love to merge my visual art to my fashion studies in a professional way. Designing with my artistic images would be something I’ve dreamed before. On another hand, I’m more than interested in the art of tattooing. Both art branches have long been not considered as real art, but every time I’m planning on pursuing something completely different of what I am working at the moment it would be fashion and tattoo art.
What do you think about the current state of the arts in Puerto Rico?
I am not the correct person to answer this because at the moment and for a year now I’ve grown apart from the art culture in the island. Not because I wanted to, but after Hurricane Maria my struggle to manage my time with my work and inspiration to create has kept me away from all types of art. Having said this, I do see a constant struggle of the arts trying to maintain its relevance in the Island. This issue has been seen for decades now because of the way people teach the importance of the practice in the community. The number one source of the issue is the education from schools and more important from the homes.
What do you think about the current state of the independent scene in Puerto Rico?
As I mentioned before, lately I’ve grown afar from the art scene in the island, but all i can say from a third person point of view is that I can see the constant approach to be part of the community. I tend to see less public events, but we’re still here and artists are still creating. There’s always a sense of being heard and seeing, and a constant search of creation. All of this is being done and there’s no approval by others, but for the love of art itself.
If a young girl came up to you and said she wanted to be an artist, what would be your advice for her?
My one and only advice to all young artists out there is to not stop creating. The quality and techniques will improve through time if they are constantly creating. It’s tough to decide to pursue a career that most of the population thinks doesn’t give back to the community. So that’s when you as an artist have to stand strong for your beliefs and continue creating. Dire times may come your way, but you gotta find that single string of inspiration and desire to prove your point of view. I would say just keep creating.
What is your biggest goal right now?
My life goal is to be able to support my family through my art. Being able to sustain everything just by my creations is the aspiration I’ve had all my life and I will continue to work to achieve it. To get to this point, I will continue to constantly create and getting back on my feet after every life test. It is something that would have to become a common practice. Another goal is to eventually get my master’s degree in illustration painting.
What do you seek to achieve with work?
My works are simple creations that try to merge constant images of the media into drawings and paintings. In a sort of manner, I study the images and transfer them into my own pictures and art.
All of the pictures in this article were provided by Cena Collazo