Interview

with Ellis Omar Williams Garca:

GG: Geneyclee Gallery
EOWG: Ellis Omar Williams Garca

GG:
Tell us about yourself, who are you and what is your background story?

EOWG:
I grew up in Bayamn, a northern town in
the small Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico
that is popularly known as the city of
traffic jams. Surrounded by clustered
industrial landscape, I was raised in a
family of musicians that exposed me to
different art disciplines from very early on.
As a kid, I loved to build things once, I
constructed a whole city in my
grandparents bookstore with empty boxes,
including an ATM machine that took
peoples money instead of dispensing it. My
main practices are drawing and sculpture, the latter is strongly fueled by that
childhood desire to build.

In 2014 I obtained my Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Sculpture from
the School of Fine Arts of Puerto Rico. During that time I participated in multiple
exhibits. Recently, my work was included in a collective show of young artists at
Walter Otero Contemporary Art Gallery, one of the top commercial galleries on
the island, where I sold a sculpture about the current migration crisis that Puerto
Rico faces.

My work focuses on challenging simplistic perceptions we too often have of life,
nature, our relationship to it and its exploitations. I want to bring consciousness
so we can become more sensible, understanding, and learn how to respect the
planet but always with a touch of humor.


GG:
Tell us a little about your process of creation?



EOWG:
In my head there is an endless swirl of ideas. When working on a piece, I begin
with the topic I want to comment on, then I decide what the best medium for it
would be sometimes its a sculpture, other times a song or a drawing.
As a sculptor, I feel more freedom when I create; building with my hands makes
it easier to express myself. In my process there has to be a playfulness, I have to
keep my inner child alive so there is always space for self-discovery.

GG:
Why do you do what you do? Does your work have a role in your society?

EOWG:
For me, there is a need and a responsibility to create art that raises awareness
about life, the exploitation of nature, and the misuse of our resources. I am not an
activist, but the current relationship we have with the environment and as a
community is too bothersome; it influences my work and ideas.

I want my art to affect the way people see the issue. Its not only important to
bring it up for discussion, but also to emphasize how we create the conversation.
In my case I use a lot of wordplays with animals and objects it lets the
audience reflect with humor.

GG:
Do you listen to any music as you work and if so, whats your favourite genre to
listen to?

EOWG:
With my musical background I listen to many different styles of music. However,
when working on a piece, I prefer to listen to music that is a bit mellow, so I can
understand the lyrics and reflect on them it keeps me thinking as I create. Some
of the artists in my playlist are Fito Pez, Silvio Rodrguez, Mercedes Sosa or
Jorge Drexler, all from Latin America.

GG:
Tell us a little about whats happening in Puerto Rico?

EOWG:
Currently, Puerto Rico is in its deepest economic crisis in history. Holding a 70
billion dollar public debt deemed un-payable and a declining economy for the
past ten years, we are headed for an unstable and uncertain future. The effects of
this crisis are already palpable, but we havent seen the worst yet the measures
expected to be implemented have not yet begun.

Our territorial and colonial status with the United States, since 1898, leaves us
with no autonomy or tools to work towards a solution freely. The situation is
pushing more than a thousand people to leave the island each month. However,
the crisis has sparked a quickly growing local art scene, where there are many
new emerging spaces and artist-run-galleries. In this moment of crisis there is a
stronger power in the arts produced by my generation. The crisis is like a
tsunami, the water has retracted from the shore and we are now waiting for the
new wave to hit as an artist, it is impossible to ignore the current situation.
When the wave arrives it will also affect my work and force me to address it in
my creations.

GG:
Tell me about an artist who inspires you? Besides the artist, what other factors
inspire you to create art?

The sculptors, Alexandre Arrechea and Maurizio Cattelan inspire me with their
work because they are bold, political and unapologetic. That is what I strive for
to create art that makes people react. Other factors that inspire me are current
politics, inequality and the abuse of power.

GG:
Are you excited to come to Hong Kong?

EOWG:
Hong Kong is completely different from Puerto Rico, as a place so distant and
new. I find it extremely exciting to have this opportunity. One of the things that
fascinates me the most is experiencing new things. A new country is hard to top.
Getting out of my comfort zone is, in my opinion, the best way to learn about the
human condition. This visit will let me grow, not just as a professional, but
personally.

GG:
Besides the art fair, what do you look forward to most in Hong Kong?

EOWG:
What I look forward to the most is the opportunity to experience the culture and
try the food! I am thrilled to visit Hong Kong. I dont know anyone that has
visited and I get to do that doesnt get better than this.

GG:
Name one of your biggest aims that youd like to achieve in your artist career?

EOWG:
Currently my biggest aim is to achieve economic independence through the
production of my creative work. Living in an island as small as Puerto Rico, its a
challenge to reach that as an artist.