Ruben Briseno Reveles
Sound and color have always informed my artistic work. I am a first generation native Chicano of Sacramento, California with roots in Zacatecas, Mexico. Being multicultural and multilingual, I have always felt that I have had to navigate layers of interpretation and liminal realities. I often dream in two languages, and work vigilantly to reconcile the inner landscapes of my family diaspora, juxtaposed in an urban reality of acclimation and acculturation. There were times in my youth when I found this predicament challenging, however, these very woven landscapes were essential to forming my artistic identity. I have always been a musician, and have played in bands and recorded musical projects for years. My day job led me to opportunities to travel the world globally, and I began collecting soundscapes of everyday life in various countries. Occasionally, I would thread these sounds into my recorded works with music. Over time, I became interested in photography, film, and connecting images to sound.
Digital and mixed media ethnography is my current medium. I am interested in the anthropology of sound and aural acoustemology. I am inspired by the sounds, images and stories of people experiencing everyday life.
Emerging technologies have created new possibilities in digital art and media. As someone who has always valued and coevolved with modern technologies, I am preoccupied with bringing the soundscapes and landscapes of ritual, common practice, and the process of nature, into light, vibration, and visuals.
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” ― Lao Tzu