DONOVAN MENDOZA

My inspiration primarily stems from pop culture and animals, particularly wolves. I have been drawing inspiration from my favorite shows, movies, and bands since a young age, which continues to influence my current work. My inspirations are derived from various sources around me, with a particular focus on immersing myself in fictional worlds through books, movies, and shows. My current fixation often directly influences my creative ideas. My motivation for creating artwork is not rooted in any profound or introspective purpose; instead, I create for the joy of it. My reasons for creating can range from a desire to bring something imaginary to life to making something I cannot afford to simply enjoy a specific subject and wanting to express it in a different medium. Whether sketching on paper or working through ideas, I do not consciously consider art's formal elements and principles during the art creation process. Instead, I assess whether my idea will visually appear pleasing, and if the answer is affirmative, I proceed. If not, I rework the concept until it makes sense aesthetically. While my artistic endeavors were previously primarily focused on 2D mediums such as painting and drawing, I have currently shifted my concentration towards creating 3D work. Although planning and executing these pieces is more involved, I find the results much more fulfilling. 

In this exhibition, I wanted to capture the idea that humans are responsible for their fate and the consequences of their actions. The gods, representing higher powers or divine beings, observe the chaos and destruction caused by the horsemen but choose not to intervene. We, as humans, have witnessed the world on the brink of destruction time and time again. Whether by our own hands or an act of the gods, humanity makes it through each time, sometimes by the skin of our teeth. This is the idea I wished to convey with my installation. I placed the gods and horsemen at different heights within the exhibition space to emphasize this concept. The four larger horse sculptures would be placed at a lower level, creating a focal point for viewers. On the other hand, the gods would be positioned in a spiral cloud mountain, slightly above eye level. This arrangement would symbolize the distance between the divine and human realms. For the gods, I used bronze to capture the divinity of pantheons. Each deity would have a unique appearance, reflecting their specific attributes and characteristics. Additionally, I envisioned using subtle red lighting to illuminate the gods, enhancing their ethereal and deadly presence. In contrast, the horse sculptures would be more minimalist but still detailed, depicting the traditional imagery of the four horsemen. The horses would be positioned dynamically as if in motion to convey the sense of impending doom and the unstoppable force of the apocalypse. To further enhance the visual impact of the exhibition, I considered incorporating pictures and videos from history projected at the horsemen. The images will coincide with each horseman.