Meet silvana soriano

We recently connected with Silvana Soriano and have shared our conversation below.

Silvana, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
“Being resilient involves possessing strong desires that determine and propel you to persistently walk, try, and explore new opportunities. It is a blend of determination and the absence of expectations. You do everything that your soul is capable of, regardless of the results. Embracing frustration and disappointment is the key to cultivating resilience.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Growing up, I was certain about my identity as an artist, yet faced the inherent doubts and insecurities that many women of my generation encountered. I navigated my path with a backdrop of shyness and insecurity, perceiving them as significant barriers to the development of my professional life. Born in Brazil, my formative years unfolded against the backdrop of a military dictatorship, which imposed a climate of caution for expressing ideas. Access to information was limited and challenging for young people like me. Navigating societal expectations around pursuing an economically viable profession posed an additional challenge to my artistic endeavors. Despite my parents’ openness and support, the apprehension of depending on others prompted me to do art education college course, aiming to make a sustainable living as an artist.

Engaging with the realm of education proved to be transformative. I unearthed a profound passion for the profession and the art of sharing knowledge. As a teacher, my motivation stems from the realization that I can create mental spaces for my students, inspiring them to think critically and authentically. Witnessing the intellectual growth and genuine curiosity in my students is what propels me in my role as an educator. It has become a rewarding journey, blending my artistic pursuits with the fulfillment found in nurturing the minds of future generations.

In my artistic endeavors, I explore a diverse range of media, including painting, mixed media, collage, printmaking, and illustration. Central to my creative process is an enduring curiosity and a relentless focus on language. Whether delving into idiomatic expressions, fairy tales, poems, or other narratives, I leverage language as a powerful signifier to craft intricate metaphors in my work.
The interplay of words, expressions, and stories serves as the canvas upon which I paint my visual narratives. With this linguistic exploration, I invite viewers to decipher layers of meaning embedded in the amalgamation of images and underlying texts. This approach not only breathes life into my creations but also allows me to engage with the universal language that connects us all, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries. Through this artistic journey, I aim to evoke an active contemplation, spark dialogue, and invite viewers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of language woven into my visual storytelling.

In 2024, I am embarking on a project centered around fairy tales, myths, and ancestral stories. This initiative aims to reignite a creative exploration of these narratives. My vision for this project involves actively engaging people in a collaborative process. I intend to craft installations that invite the public to interact by adding, removing, or altering elements and fragments.

I firmly believe that active participation fosters a more profound and enriching reflection on the artwork compared to passive observation alone. Such involvement not only enhances the audience’s connection with the pieces but also encourages a more dynamic and compelling engagement with the overall artistic experience.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Reflecting on my journey, I believe three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge had a significant impact:

Embracing Insecurity and Feeling of Inadequacy: Initially perceived as defects, these qualities turned out to be powerful drivers for personal growth. Insecurity and a sense of inadequacy pushed me to think critically, understand my own limitations, and ultimately find freedom and sincerity in embracing my true self.

Humility: Recognizing one’s smallness in the grand scheme of things fosters humility. This humility allowed me to navigate challenges with a sense of openness and a willingness to learn from others. It became a key element in my personal and professional development.

Understanding Uniqueness and Specialness: Realizing that we are not inherently special, but rather uniquely ourselves, is a paradox that can fuel personal growth. Embracing this truth allows for genuine self-discovery and acceptance, laying the foundation for authentic individual development.

For those beginning their journey, my advice would be to stay true to your core, to what truly ignites your passion and gives meaning to your life. Authenticity might come at a cost, but the internal peace derived from being genuine and honest with oneself is invaluable. Success, in this context, is not just about external achievements but also about the internal satisfaction that comes from living in alignment with your authentic self. So, stick to your truth, be patient, and let authenticity guide your journey.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely, collaboration is at the heart of my current project, and I’m keen to connect with individuals who share a passion for artistic expression. I’m particularly interested in collaborating on the creation of artist books, weaving together narratives and visuals around predetermined themes.

If you are an artist or anyone intrigued by the prospect of crafting artist books that delve into the realms of fairy tales, myths, and ancestral stories, I welcome your involvement. The diversity of perspectives and ideas that collaboration brings is a source of enrichment, and it contributes to the sense of belonging and community that I value in my projects.

If you’re reading this and feel inspired to collaborate, please don’t hesitate to connect with me. You can reach out through my email silvanasoriano@gmail.com

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Profile Sofia Soriano Under My Skin, mixed media,2023 Cabeça nas Nuvens , mixed media,2023 Picar a Mula, collage on paper, 2023 Black Sheep, collage on paper, 2023 Dar Pano Pra manga, mixed media,2023 On the Fence, mixed media,2023 Across the Board, mixed media,2021 Off Chain, collage on paper, 2023

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