Essentials Creative's Afterworld: Zen Garden, is a site-responsive installation that seeks to celebrate multiculturalism and diversity.
Our inspiration comes from afterlife beliefs across different cultures, like Obon and Day of the Dead, acknowledging the similarities among them and commemorating the legacy of our ancestors and the departed. Our collective experiences as Asian/Latin American artists motivate us to create artwork that celebrates and honors the stories and identities of people from diverse backgrounds.
Afterworld is a space of inclusivity and understanding, where visitors of all ages and backgrounds can come together to recognize and appreciate the commonality of our shared experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of one another.
Essentials Creative is a multi-disciplinary collective that creates holistic applied arts experiences.
Our multi-faceted projects draw from a wide range of disciplines, including photography, fashion, graphic design, video, projection, animation, music, and installation. Despite the involvement of multiple Essentials members in each piece, we always maintain a unified vision of experimentation, fluidity, and diversity. We provide a platform for underrepresented artists to express themselves and find support in their field. We actively seek emerging talent, innovative voices, and untold narratives, and celebrate collaboration with other creatives. As a collective, we are committed to embracing artists of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.
Artist Collective Bio
Essentials Creative is a multimedia studio that embraces fluidity, diversity, experimentation, and collaboration. With a team of skilled professionals in photography, graphic design, and art direction, Essentials has exhibited their work at prestigious venues such as MOCA Toronto, the San Antonio Central Library, Mexic-Arte Museum, Presa House Gallery, Ivestor Contemporary, and AIPP (Art in Public Places).
The core creative team at Essentials is made up of Misa Yamamoto (she/her), Fabian Leon Villa (he/him), Steven Casanova (he/him), and Sixto-Juan Zavala (he/him), who bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to their work. By combining their unique approaches, they are able to create site-specific installation art and collaborate with underrepresented artists to create meaningful experiences. Together, they are committed to delivering immersive projects that challenge and inspire their audiences.
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Credits:
Images Courtesy of the Artists