10 Questions with Salomé Tamayo Hidalgo

Salomé Tamayo Hidalgo was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, but now resides in Philadelphia, USA. She received her BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design, with a double minor in Drawing and Scientific Illustration. She was part of different exhibitions throughout university and was awarded the Latin American Illustration 2017 winner for her 3D experimental work. She is now represented by SCAD ART Sales.

Salomé’s work humorously celebrates the inconsistencies and peculiarities of social cannons. By observing people, she looks for characters and stories entwined in everyday life. Her characters play with abstract concepts to give concrete depictions of people being and living in their own way.

www.salometamayo.com | @salo.illu

ARTIST STATEMENT

“Her work celebrates the inconsistencies and funkiness of social cannons and how we might play with them...in a humorous way.

The characters play with abstract and existential concepts to give concrete depictions of people being and living in their own way.

She has always enjoyed people-watching, trying to understand them and imagining their lives, hopes, dreams, struggles, accomplishments, and ideals, and recognizing how they clash with society’s imposed roles and stereotypes.

In the process, she has been fighting her existential questions of their societal roles and stereotypes by depicting characters in situations where their most raw self is exposed. She finds a connection with them by highlighting stories that encompass their age, profession, race, color, and moral standing. They feel relatable and alive because they are, have been, or have known someone like them.

This collection is meant to bring people together through the real and the raw. Deconstructing social norms to celebrate the core value of individuality while questioning what it means to be old? Successful? Indecent? Beautiful? Different? Who are they supposed to be?

The characters were created out of Aqua and Urethane resins and were painted with an airbrush. She incorporated accents to each of the characters using different materials, including mink hair, gold leaf, fabric, and thread. They were each grounded and displayed on a wooden base.

It was important to her that this collection's aesthetic not be singularly categorized as a caricature, animation, stylized small sculpture, etc. She wanted to make it hard for the viewer to define the characters in a specific style to highlight the ambiguities that make the characters, each of us, human.”

La Pobre Viejecita, Polymer clay, mixed media, 12x16 cm, 2017. Salomé Tamayo H©

Cubana En La Habana, Polymer clay, mixed media, 6x4, 2017. Salomé Tamayo H©

INTERVIEW

Could you tell us a little more about your background?

I was born in Medellin, Colombia. My father is Colombian, and my mother is Cuban and raised in Puerto Rico. Throughout my life, I've been able to call different places home. I have lived in Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua before setting back in the USA. I received my in Fine Art in Savannah College of Art and Design in Illustration with a double minor in Drawing and Scientific Illustration.

What is your personal aim as an artist?

I have loved art ever since I was a child. For me, Art is a refuge; it Is something, and somewhere I come through to find myself. Most of the time, I am trying to find answers to my everyday life questions; Insecurities, hopes, fears, and pressures I put on myself to succeed. Art, for me, can take all those expectations away and allow me to just be.

Your miniature sculptures form a rather diverse and peculiar universe, where every shape, color, and type is represented. How did you come up with the idea for this project?

I’ve always been interested in different cultures. The languages, customs, traditions, and ways of living have been very appealing to me. I gravitate to the mesmerizing world of diversity. I want diversity to be reflected in my work through the colors, features, textures, and stories. I am drawn to humanity in all its forms, which I try to depict in my work.

How important is it for you to depict real people? Or do you prefer fictional characters? In other words, where do you draw your inspiration from, real people or fictional ones?

I draw my inspiration from real people. I’ve always enjoyed people watching. I try to imagine and understand their dreams, fears, ideals, lives in general; to find commonality with my own. I also look for humorous aspects and peculiarities and try to translate that into my work.

Fabio and Angelica, Resin, Air brush, 6x4 cm, 2021. Salomé Tamayo H©

In your statement, you say you "wanted to make it hard for the viewer to define the characters in a specific style to highlight the ambiguities that make the characters, each of us, human." It is a powerful message of acceptance that we should all embrace in real life. How important is it for you to let your true self and personality shine and transfer it into your work?

I find that we are all a complex web of contradictions and that, in some way, we are always being pushed to pick a certain category, to check one box, when we are anything but that. For me, it's been a learning process of understanding that I don't have to belong to one box, whether that is through my work, my personality, or my beliefs. I've been trying to embrace these complexities not just in myself but also in others, and I hope that shows through my characters.

What was the most challenging part of your project?

For me, the most challenging part of creating my project is when I put the characters out into the world, waiting to see what the feedback is going to be like. I find myself combating my own insecurities, thinking that the characters might be "too" ambiguous to "fit" into the fine art world. Then I come back to the same dilemma I've been trying to fight through in their creation – not allowing them to be constricted into a certain box.

Do you have any artists or role models that influence and inspire your work?

Yes, I follow a lot of artists where I gain inspiration from. Chris Sickles from Red Nose Studio is one of my main inspirations. His characters’ aura brings you into their world through textures, colors, and camera angles. I also love Marina Capdevila. Her subject matter is irreverent and raw and, in a way, is what I strive to depict in my work.

What do you hope that the public takes away from your work?

I hope they leave with a sense of relatability. A connection to the ambiguity of the characters. I hope they see through the humorous characters space where they can be themselves too, their most real self.

Marcelo, Polymer clay, mixed media, 6x4, 2017. Salomé Tamayo H©

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

Every day is a process. I’ve been working on other sculptures and stories that are going to be part of The Real and The Raw series. With even better stories about people living their own lives in a way that works for them, stories that excite and connect.

Finally, what is one thing you wish to achieve in 2021?

I’ve really enjoyed working on this series and hope to include more characters and more stories in 2021. I also want to expand my presentation of the characters into canvas, depicting them differently. As a general 2021 goal, I hope this year brings more hope and opportunities and that we all take this time to grow personally.

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