Rilke Roca

Rilke Roca understands artistic creation as an immense chain of knowledge of the human being through time. He views himself as a link in charge of continuing this collective task of knowledge guardianship. His work aims to open channels of communication for the viewer so that they can reflect on their own experience of life and death, question identity and the overflowing ‘cult of beauty’ as a symptom of a trivial society. Rilke - who is of Mexican-Catalan heritage - grew up and lives divided between two distinct cultures. This experience of living dual realities has informed his work and provoked him to question the role of indigenous people in our current worldview. He feels it is important to highlight their existence and their guardianship of our environment. This is more relevant after the ongoing oblivion of their culture (via globalisation, colonialism and environmental genocide). His work reflects the collective memory of their traditions to encourage the viewer to value the importance of all cultures in the human experience. His artistic process includes a myriad of techniques; painting, watercolor, engraving, digital illustration and sculpture with the intention of generating awareness - not only for those who look at his creation - but as an exercise in self-reflection on their(his) place and responsibility in the collective humanity. He considers that his work is at the service of the complex organism that we make up as living, throbbing and creative individuals.