An Interview with Artist Oscar “Okuda” San Miguel
It’s challenging to look away . . . and even more so to see the entire scale of his massive murals that sweep up the sides of skyscrapers and across concrete landscapes. The gray is transformed into entire buildings as his one canvas. Oscar San Miguel, also known as “Okuda,” his artist name, pours his rainbow, geometric heart out onto the world with spray paint on large-scale murals and fiberglass or metal for public works of art. No need for signing his pieces, his art stands for his name.
With such elaborate and fascinating works on display for the world to enjoy, one might assume Okuda comes from a family of legendary artists. “No,” he said, “all my family works in restaurants.”
Okuda is very close with his mother. He found a way to connect and share art and his passion with her: embroidery. “The embroidery pieces I do with my mum are an exception because she never did it before. She found her passion and a permanent connection with me being 65 years old.”
When asked if Okuda has children of his own, he answered, “Not yet, but I want to adopt someday. And I would like to play with them at the studio and try to get them into a creative world rather than video games and computers.”
Okuda began his passion as a child, himself.
At what age did you first have an interest in art?
“I’ve been drawing all my life, but I started to love art when I discovered it studying art at school. At the same time, I fell in love with graffiti artists in the 90s.”
Who has been your mentor?
“The street.”
Who is your favorite artist?
“First, The Bosch. And then Magritte, Dali, Ernst, Murakami, Tomokazu Matsuyama, Os Gemeos, Todd James, Sixe Paredes, Nano4814…”
If you couldn’t be an artist, what other route might you have taken?
“Soccer player, skateboarder, African ONG volunteer, or psychologist.”
What inspires you?
“Everything, every day: music, cinema, streets, fashion, traveling.”
What is your thought process before you begin an art project?
“I don’t like to do sketches. I prefer to arrive at the place and think about the composition in front of the wall. But, sometimes, I have to do everything first for the confirmation of the institutions or brands if it is a commission.”
What is your favorite medium?
“Spray paint in big scale murals and fiberglass, or metal for big sculptures for public spaces.”
What is the one thing you want the world to know about you?
“I need to leave part of my heart with my creations in as much countries as possible. I want to change the gray world into a colorful and positive one.”
Okuda, please come to California. What an extraordinary talent and love for art you have!
Although Okuda is from Santander, Spain, he lives in Madrid where his studio is located. Okuda is licensed in Fine Art by Complutense University of Madrid and is represented by Ink and Movement (IAM), an art projects and management organization that promotes contemporary and urban artists.
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