DISRUPTED Artist Feature: Sugery Reveron

DISRUPTED: An online exhibition in collaboration with WO Foundation exploring aspects of disruption and interference in our everyday life. From social and political unrest, technological innovation, to psychological trauma, we have experienced a disturbance in the way we experience life. Disruptions come when we less expect them and often have a way of awakening new ways of looking at the world. WO Foundation artists were invited to interpret the idea of disruption in their own context and submit to this exhibition artworks that explore this concept.

Art Nxt Level wants to feature some of the talented artists that created meaningful and timely work for this show. Sugery Reveron discusses the unique difficulties of women in art and the how the pandemic allowed her to delve deeper into her art practice in new ways. 

Can you speak a bit about your experience as a female artist? 

Sugery: As a female artist I have felt the struggle of being in a field dominated by men. I started in special effects and had to deal with misogynistic comments and attitudes. But not only that, also from society -and even worse- the people around you who think that because you are a woman this is just a hobby and that you can't create "real art" or make a living from it, so as a woman you have to work more just to demonstrate that you can make art and that is valuable as a "man-made work". 

Sugery: At the present time I'm directing my artistic practice towards painting and sculpture, and I have been lucky to receive the support of my partner and closest family members. Also, it's a great time thanks to social media to find opportunities to show what I can do, exhibit my pieces, and meet artists from different fields that enrich my point of view about art and life. 

Besides all the obstacles that we still face as female artists I really appreciate the bonds we are creating as a community, not only to gain a position and visibility in today's art world but to vindicate all those who came before us and to improve the situation of the female artists of the future. 

In context of the show, how would you describe disruption in the pandemic?  

Sugery: During the pandemic, disruption was essentially the mood and way of life at that moment because not only did we not know how the virus was going to evolve, but because the restrictions made it difficult to work and study on a regular basis—not to mention to be far from our loved ones. I'm from Venezuela but I live in Argentina and here we had one of the longest quarantines of the world, so it was really stressful to deal with the situation.  

Our routines were completely torn apart, and we had to get used to be confined to our space, with our thoughts and feelings. In this case, some people discovered themselves in a good way while others had a really rough time coping with mental health (I think most of the people were in the last scenario). 

Personally, although it was a hard time, it was also a moment for self discovery because I could focus 100% on the things I really want to do in life and took the time to study a lot (paint, sculpture) which literally disrupted the routine I was having previously. I know it's kind of a privileged point of view, but I have known a lot of people (including me) that took the decision to change their lives because of the perspective the pandemic gave them. 

How has the expression of art been a way for you to find peace during disruption?  

Sugery: Art has been an important part of my life since I was a child but during the pandemic it was the principal way to relief all the anguish and uncertainty. Not only did I have the opportunity to create new pieces, but to explore different mediums and techniques without the pressure to make something perfect (at least for me). It was an interesting journey within myself, getting to know what kind of things really move and inspire me. 

Besides, I took the opportunity to learn more about art history and artists throughout the ages -with special interest in female artists- and I have discovered not only a great amount of talented women in art but how they have been erased from the history, and now one of my main goal is to get to know and give visibility to female artists either from my works or sharing information from social networks. 

What was your experience creating Pandemic Venus?  

Sugery: I experienced a lot of emotions while creating Pandemic Venus because it was the first time I used this kind of material and technique. Although I have training as a sculptor, it was focused on special effects where we use modeling as a main technique. In this case I was a little hesitant with carving (losing material, destroy the figure, etc.), but once I began the work it went fluently and I felt confident (and learned a lot). 

In the other hand, I conceived this piece thinking of the figure of woman as a muse but also as a creator. So for me, Pandemic Venus is as a kind of a tribute to us as an artists, workers, mothers, sisters, friends... anyway, as human beings. 

 To keep up with Sugery and her art follow her on Instagram by clicking the link below: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suge.art/