Juan Capistran

Artist’s Statement

Every gesture, encounter and social act contains invisible performances related to gender, power and nationality. My artwork highlights and probes the theatricality of human interactions and the potential of exchange. In my art practice I explore the politicized spaces between people, whether those spaces be physical, virtual or cultural. My artistic production ranges from constructing performances, objects and videos to organizing international dialogues and exhibitions. In many of my projects I utilize varying strategies of collaboration — partnering with artists, composers and audiences — to mirror the relational content of the artwork.

In my most recent work, entitled “Exchange Rate: 2008,” I organized and participated in an international performance exchange in response to the 2008 U.S. presidential election. In all, 38 artists (half of which are based in Los Angeles) created, exchanged and interpreted performance direction with the aid of the project Web site exchangerate2008.com. These actions took place in 16 countries all over the globe, from the streets of Seoul, South Korea to the alleys of Tel Aviv, Israel. This series of performances mirrored and confronted the pageantry of the campaigns of both candidates and highlighted artists who are challenging the politics of today.

I am currently researching my next project, which juxtaposes the theories of Augosto Boal’s “Theater of the Oppressed” with a tourist attraction north of Mexico City that simulates illegal border crossings.

Website: softestbulletevershot.com

Biography

Select Group Shows

2009
The 2nd San Juan Triennial, San Juan, Puerto Rico

2008
In The Round, Andrewshire Gallery, Los Angeles
Read This, Various Locations, including LAX ART, Los Angeles
Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

2006
Eject, Primer Festival Internacional de Video Performance de la Ciudad de México, Ex Teresa Arte Actual, Mexico City
Been there, done that…, La Mano Press, Los Angeles

2005
Brown on Brown, Slanguage, Los Angeles
16:1 Anniversary Exhibition, 16:1, Santa Monica, Calif.

2004
Tar Pit Tales, 4-F Gallery, Los Angeles
The O.C., Class-C Gallery, Los Angeles
The Devil’s In the Details, La Mano Press, Los Angeles

2003
I Am A Curator, Chisenhale Gallery, London
The Altoids Curiously Strong Collection – A Retrospective, The New Museum, New York
First Annual Alumni Invitational, Claire Trevor School of the Arts Gallery at University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.

2002
Show That Will Show That a Show Is Not Only A Show, The Project, Los Angeles
Storefront Live, Korean American Museum, Los Angeles
The End, Deep River, Los Angeles

2001
One Planet Under a Groove: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, N.Y.
Irrational Exhibits, Track 16, Santa Monica, Calif.
Indomitable, Beall Center for Art and Technology, Irvine, Calif.

Select Performances

2003
Below the Belt, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles

2001
Working Classics, Side Street Projects, Los Angeles

Awards

1998
J. Paul Getty Multicultural Internship

1994
California State Arts Scholar

EDUCATION

M.F.A., 2002
University of California at Irvine, Irvine, Calif.

B.F.A., 1999
Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles