Artist hosts solo exhibition that threads commentary, community together through interactive means

Similar to paint that splashes onto a white canvas, there’s a question that strikes those who see the hard-hitting question placed on the wall.

“Have you ever had a near-death experience?”

A question of morality for sure, in which some may interpret as either an incident in which happened to one’s own well-being, or maybe, some may relate the question to a loved one who faced death.

But, just like a question that piques the psyche, it deserves to be answered.

Placed to the left of the poster with the question is washable black ink. In which, attendees mark their thumb and answer the proposed question on the wall.

Those who walk into the art exhibition here on the first floor of the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley library not only have a choice, but an opportunity that not a lot of exhibits allow.

And that’s the opportunity of interaction.

Jose Angel Lozano, a UTRGV graduate student in the College of Fine Arts, is hosting his solo exhibition named “Gradations” — but it’s not the typical exhibit where you walk in, look at the art pieces and call it a day.

No, not here.

Lozano strategically placed opportunities on the several pieces lined up on the walls to not only add a layer to his work, but to also learn more about the community.

Take for example, the questions lined up on the wall right when someone enters the exhibit.

“I’m trying to create work that really engages the viewer and really, you know, they get to interact with it — get to be a part of it, they get to collaborate with the artist,” Lozano said.

One of the other pieces that requires interaction from the audience was the piece, “Visual Pitch,” in which interested viewers can grab the mallet and play on the xylophone to see the rise in pitch. It’s a piece that is not only visually pleasing, but sonically as well.

The artist said that he feels there’s a current disconnection in the craft — more so, between the viewer and art — a sort of dissonance if you will.

Which makes sense considering how modern technology — as advanced as it is, especially through communicative channels — it is arguable people just don’t seem to be as united as before.

In addition, with how media is distributed nowadays through phones, streaming services and more, consumers compared to back then don’t dive into a piece of art like they used to.

“I want to provide an experience to the viewer, right?” he said. “I feel like, I think Yoko Ono said along the lines, ‘We have enough objects in this world.’ Right? We want to provide, or at least for me, artists that work in the interactive world, we want to provide more experiences to the community.”

In the piece, “Words of Value,” those who are word smiths — or maybe just want to communicate how they’re feeling — are encouraged to mix and match letters to their liking to spell out a word.

Glancing at the myriad of letters, the words “law,” “fat,” “hugs,” and “I am not here” could be seen spelled out — which shows that we never know what one is thinking. Not even old married couples can guess what their spouse is cooking up in their head.

However, not all the pieces are interactive, so if one takes a gander in “Gradations,” they’re not forced to go and interact with each piece.

Some of the pieces have a social commentary to it, especially one of them that is sand collected from Boca Chica Beach before SpaceX made its presence known there.

Another piece, “Time is Money,” is a visual representation of how money is viewed throughout the duration of the day.

Lozano bought a makeshift item from a flea market and placed a penny in the center of the clock — for many reasons, one because the cent or the dollar is the center of a lot of people’s mindsets.

“But even if they’re not interactive, I feel like, you know, they could see pieces more closely and really get something out of them,” Lozano said. “I would say to look closely at the art (that the audience sees) because at the end of the day, I feel like it’s a reflection of where we are right now.”

The Brownsville resident is also a teaching assistant. In the future, Lozano said that he hopes to pursue academic teaching one day.

The exhibit will be on display at the UTRGV Library on the Edinburg campus until March 25.

Asked what advice he has for those interesting in venturing in the arts, Lozano said that “work” is a critical component.

“At the end of the day, art is really competitive,” he said. “I would just say that, you know, if you’re fully dedicated, if you’re really into what you’re doing, it’s gonna show through the work.”