Daniel Barrera

Background

About Daniel Barrera

Hi! My name is Daniel and I love making art and working with technology. I recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a bachelors of fine arts, working with different mediums such as New Media (electronics), Photography, Sculpture, Illustration, Film, and a bit of Art History. However, I have always had a strong interest in technology, often being fascinated by all the new advancements that are being made every day in this digital age that we live in. Lately, I have been taking a step and venturing outside of my field, exploring new ones that could help better my knowledge of art and the world around us. As an artist I often found myself experimenting with all sorts of mediums and materials, however, technology was something that always ended up being incorporated into my work and thus is a subject I strive to keep researching more about. Whether it be incorporating and programming electronics into clothing such as that of an LED Hoodie or Led Mask to using older cameras to create comedic films, I try to come out of my comfort zone and try out new ideas that can add a new perspective to my work. During my time at UIC, I found my calling to create what I like to call comedic art, meaning art that is or has comedic effect. I have always been fascinated by the way we as humans react towards art, whether that be through expressing emotions such as excitement, annoyance, sadness, or even outright critiquing the work. Most times however, I found that people can be very stoic and that a lot of these emotions aren’t conveyed right away which in turn makes for a serious audience going about each work. I wanted to play on that and make art that has the ability to bring everyone’s inner child out. The work that I make is meant to be laughed at and poked fun at, it’s meant to take the mind off of our heavy burdens, even if it's just for a few seconds, to remember that we're not just robots walking about the art, but rather emotional human beings. From the brainstorming process involving creating sketches and schematics to touching base on pop culture, everyday situations and nostalgic elements to create more familiarity within my work. While a lot of artists touch base on pain that they may be experiencing, I'm touching on laughter, on a more positive aspect of art. For now my goal is to expand my art practice while developing my knowledge within other fields and in some way try to create a link between the two, creating my unique definition of art.