We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aaron “Ignatius” Ortiz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aaron “Ignatius” below.
Hi Aaron “Ignatius”, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from multiple sources.
I am resilient because of my parents, Star Wars, playing sports, Anime, and even a bit because of Church.
Each reason has helped me on numerous occasions.
My parents would never let me give up on anything growing up. They would always be there to push me to do things I was afraid of doing. Or if they saw me getting frustrated, they would tell me to take a step back, take a breath, and encourage me to look at the bigger picture. Often in a very literal way. (Heart)
Sports taught me to push myself to what I believe are my limits and then add five more. The only way to get better, the only way to reach that next level is resilience. Hard work, determination, work ethic, habits, eating right, etc. As I trained my body and skills. I was inherently strengthening the resilience within myself to be just as formidable. (Body)
Anime and Star Wars taught me that passion is the purest fuel for resilience.
Star Wars taught me that “Rebellions are built on hope.” Whether that is the rebellion of the soul, mind, or (literal) rebellion of an evil empire, one must have the willpower and resilience if one ever wishes to be triumphant at the end of everything.
Anime showed me that even the “most powerful men in the world” cry a lot, feel lonely, crave love, or do anything that isn’t considered “truly masculine” in today’s society. Those same men always conquer that next big hurdle and continue being the “strongest and most resilient man in the universe.” (Mind)
Although I’m not a fan of organized religion anymore, I do have to give my thanks to the church. More importantly, the theology I learned and gained from the church. To be resilient, one must have an extraordinary amount of faith, hope, and willpower. Some people are born with it already, and some need to work on it a bit harder. In the end, the moral of the story is always that everyone is capable. It just depends on how bad the person wants it… (Soul)
I wouldn’t be at this point in my photography career if it weren’t for the resilience that I’ve cultivated within myself. Church/Theology taught me grace. By allowing myself grace, I can practice what my parents taught me and take a step back to see the bigger picture. The work ethic, competitiveness, and determination I gained from playing sports carried over to my photography career. Patience, faith, gratitude, and humility have allowed me to stay afloat in those times of complete and utter doubt. Together, each and every one of these experiences have been the foundation of my 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?
I am currently working on a project called Tenfold.
Tenfold is a photo project with the intent of constructing a “bridge” for artists and creatives living on the island of Borikén (Puerto Rico) to those part of the Diaspora (and the rest of the world). With this project, I aim to give back “tenfold” to the communities devastated by Hurricane Maria, the earthquakes of 2020, and COVID-19.
While subconsciously addressing the issue of Diaspora, this project known as Tenfold (Décupla) has undergone a transformation that extends its impact beyond the confines of the Island of Boriken. It has reached not only those residing on the island but also individuals navigating their own Diaspora, such as ‘Nuyoricans’ and other Puerto Ricans residing in the United States. These communities have experienced a disconnection from their cultural roots and their homeland.
Engaging in conversations with fellow Diaspora Boricuas, a common thread emerged. Everyone felt profoundly uncertain regarding where to commence their journey of cultural reconnection. Many individuals are embarking on this journey independently, with some lacking familial ties to the island due to relatives having either passed away or dispersed worldwide. In numerous cases, they are essentially starting from scratch.
By fostering the ability to learn about my own culture and sharing this knowledge through various social media platforms, the project initiates a bridge-building process between Puerto Ricans born on the island and those born in the Diaspora. This bridge will facilitate and enhance communication, mutual education, and the establishment of partnerships and friendships among these two distinct groups.
Ultimately, the project aspires to forge new homes, new familial bonds, and new connections. I proudly call myself Borikén and strive to prove myself worthy with this contribution.
I aim to publish the whole project next year. As well as an exhibit showcasing some of the photos.
Hopefully, some time around Latin American Heritage Month.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Fundamentals.
It is imperative and essential for people to understand the fundamentals no matter the art form they practice.
Going to school for photography helped sharpen the innate abilities I possessed. If school isn’t in the cards, there is always YouTube University. There are Art Books, interviews, and DMing others for advice and guidance. Learn anything and everything you can.
2. Curiosity.
Once you have your fundamentals in shape, the curiosity of innovation follows. How can I “break” or “bend” the “rules”? And please allow yourself to be curious, even if it ends up sucking. You may learn something while messing up that you can use to your advantage later in one’s career. Stumble onto the next best thing by being curious.
3. Self Awareness.
Being self-aware is so crucial. It will keep you accountable to yourself, and it will help evolve your work (no matter the medium) to new levels. One should read all the self-help books, watch all the YouTube videos, and go to therapy if you have the means to. Journaling and writing about your work after creating or during the process of creating is highly supportive. The more self-aware you become, the more resilient you become, and the more curious you become. Self-awareness it is an amazingly unshakeable foundation to create for yourself that I cannot stress enough.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand changed my life. It artistically became my bible.
The most valuable information I gained from the book is to be yourself. No matter if those in charge cannot see or understand your vision. Be passionate, dive in, and really learn your artistic medium inside and out. Become truly masterful. Oh, and seek out others who are masters in their respective fields. You want to surround yourself with like-minded others but also those who will challenge and push you, no Yes-men.
Contact Info:
- Website: byignatius.com
- Instagram: @byignatius
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-ortiz-0ab31b12b/
Image Credits
Tommy Vo is the man who photographed the portrait of me. The rest of the images uploaded were taken by myself.
