Creativity brings innovation. By merging my scientific mind with my creative mind, I am able to contribute new artistic immersive experiences to the contemporary art making practices. These experiences are meant to play with concepts of the virtual space whilst indulging in a viewer’s natural curiosities. To simultaneously exist visually but not physically is a fascinating phenomenon that has high potential for artistic expression. One could simulate an environment lost to history, or even simulate what it looks like to be inside someone’s mind. Virtual Reality technology enables that, and that is pushed forward through my art making.

The mind instinctively thinks through images. Before language, there are pictures. We do not control these pictures. They simply are there and it is not always clear as to why. When my father passed away last summer from Glioblastoma, I was devastated. I did my best to cling to every memory that I could, but when reflecting on his passing I began to see images of seemingly unrelated objects appear in my mind. It was not until deep contemplation that I had realized the significance of these objects. Objects such as my father’s military boots or radio brought back to me strong positive memories, or events, that I had personally experienced with my father. I wanted to share these objects with my viewers, along with the journey I took during the grieving process. It is because of that I selected a Virtual Reality installation for my St. Mary’s Project. With it, I have successfully captured the essence of my father through the virtual depiction of images that come from my mind. This is not just a portrait of my father, but my father as he exists in my mental landscape. Because of that, to me, they are the sincerest form of self-expression.

However, these objects could not exist in a vacuum. It was necessary that I provide a context to the space the viewers traverse. This navigation is what led to a journey about coping. I thought it would be most fitting that the environment to be heavily inspired by the Puerto Rican mountain ranges. My father and I share memories of traversing the grassy mountains together. As we traveled through the mountain, we would proceed to be soaked in heavy rain. Our only company outside ourselves was the croaks of the Coqui frogs. Despite the isolation and dense forests, the mountains were peaceful. In all counts it should be scary, but my father’s calm appreciation for his home had made me feel not only safe, but welcome to the land. In my piece, the ocean is loud. The rain is pouring harshly. The trees are shaking and everything is dark. For the viewer, it certainly is a tense experience. However, within the mountains lays beacons of light that guide the viewer through the mountain, as my father has guided me during my youth. Even in such a dangerous journey, we push on not just because of or insatiable curiosity for the unknown, but because we know there is someone by our side guiding us. As we continue to push, we are conquering our fears. We are healing. My work leads the viewer through intense trials that have taken presence in my past as well as in my mind. They join me in my journey of letting go and will find relief once they reach the mountain’s end..