Creating is Resisting: Isaac and Art as a Political Tool

As a plastic artist, Isaac transforms his life experiences and ancestry into canvases that tell stories. Growing up in the outskirts of Guarulhos, his journey in art began collectively, participating in cultural projects since childhood.

His creative process involves intense research and multiple sketches before each work comes to life. Music, cinema, and photography are essential pillars in the construction of his visual narratives, which blend afrofuturism, social criticism, and symbolism.

We spoke with Isaac about his references, the impact of ballroom culture, and rebellion as a path to the future. Check it out below:

Where did you grow up and how did that environment influence your art?

I grew up and still live in the outskirts of Guarulhos. The neighborhood where I grew up was fundamental in my art - during childhood and adolescence I participated in many government projects, so I experienced a formative phase creating art collectively.

In some works, you bring direct references to pop singers. What attracts you to this universe and how does it fit into your artistic message?

What attracts me to these artists that I bring to canvas is how they produce their works with mastery. Citing my main reference, Beyoncé, in her new projects she wants to see you dance but with the completely political research of reclaiming musical genres that have been appropriated by white people. So, when I talk about building a future in my work, I have to talk about other artists who are building that future today.

Did you always know you wanted to be a plastic artist, or did this path emerge in another way?

No, I always drew but it was never my focus... I practiced other disciplines like dance for a long time and was into fashion for a while, but during the pandemic I couldn't develop either of those and then I started painting and delving into the plastic arts.

How does your creative process unfold? Is there something specific you do at the moment of execution?

I think consuming art in general: movies, music, books, and photography are essential in my creative process. The most specific part of the process is creating many sketches of the canvases — a canvas can have up to 10 sketches for each detail. Creating color maps for clothing is one example: I do research on costumes to compose the story I want to tell.

Your work has a strong symbolism. Are you looking to create a utopia, a social critique, or both?

The foundation of my work is Afrofuturism, so there is the creation of utopia to try to escape the terrible everyday life, but there is also a political side that has been speaking more loudly in my works. There is no future without rebellion.

How do you choose the visual and symbolic elements to compose your paintings? Is there research behind each work?

All of my works start from research, in which I create a summary of the subject I am going to paint and how to build that visual story. Each canvas is part of a series, long or short, that has a beginning and an end narrative. The second stage is to tell this story visually, which involves consuming various forms of art and gathering as many references as possible — almost like building a mental archive. Additionally, growing up in a religious home, even without following the faith, provided me with a wealth of references that add a sacred touch to my works.

What are your biggest artistic and cultural influences?

I will separate them into categories:

Music: Beyoncé, Urias, Solange, and Linn da Quebrada;

Visual arts: Abdias Nascimento, Ode Hilarie, Kara Walker, BraNw, and Yoshitaka Amano;

Film: Jordan Peele, Pedro Almodóvar, and Spike Lee.

The Vogue style and Drag art appear in your works. How do these movements artistically influence you?

There is no future without black LGBTQIAPN+ art. This is the foundation of my work: questioning the performance of gender and sexuality. The ballroom culture also reflects this purpose, being a community that builds family, promotes collective support through art, and directly challenges social norms.

• If you could give someone a piece of advice, what would you say?

Research and master your art and try everything that is possible. Your first works are just tests — not what will dictate your art in the future.