From mechanical workshop to mural: Luis Vázquez found his life in art and his place in Roatán
By Próspera Team2 min read
Luis Vázquez was born in Tegucigalpa and lived in Choluteca, where he worked as an industrial mechanic. It was a layoff that led him to discover art. “I took a different direction until I was fired from my job and that's where I found the world of art,” he recalls. “It was like so natural that I felt it was my thing, and from then on I started to live my life because it is really me.”
Approximately three years ago, e he Infinita City team contacted him to invite him as artist in residence.. “I'm going to dare to go because the idea is to do different things, open new spaces and do different things,” he says of that decision.
From residence to address
The stay began as a one-month artist residency. When it ended, Vázquez was left to work permanently at Infinita City, a company established within Próspera ZEDE. Today heads the company's art program. “Some of my work within Infinita is directing the art program,” he explains.
His work includes creating murals, digital products such as NFTs, design, cultural management, and coordinating art workshops for children in the community. “Within the art program we try to invite national artists, also do some art workshops for children in the community,” she says.
Art, technology and community
For Vazquez, Prospera's environment offers something I had not encountered before: the possibility of connecting art with innovation.. “This is the place where we can connect with technology, with people who have innovative ideas and be able to merge ideas, concepts to create new things,” he describes.
The art program also has an outward function: “To be able to use art as a means to show the community what's here.”
Vázquez has a clear view of what is at stake. “There are a lot of talented people and there is a lot of the talent that is lost because there are no opportunities., Or because the art conditions in our country are not decent,” he says. “But here we are trying to change a little bit.”
His invitation is direct: “I invite you to come and build something new”.”