Fight in the Museum: 10 Questions with Muralist Marlon Davila | Six09

Marlon Davila is a teaching artist with ancient connections to Guatemala. His collaborative murals with students from D&R Greenway and the Latin American Legal Defense Education Fund from Hamilton and other Mercer cities to create murals that celebrate heritage and nature are encouraging for both the artists and the community.

What do you communicate with your art?

What I communicate with my art is definitely the message of love. For example, my current public exhibition at the Princeton Public Library, “Phases of the Heart,” which runs through October 20, 2024, conveys certain states that a human heart might experience. At the end of the day, everything truly comes from love.

From a creative perspective, I set myself the challenge of painting women with heart-shaped faces, each representing an emotion or a phase that the heart may be going through. First I started with the one piece I call “Heart on Fire,” and then a series of others followed.

What media do you use and why?

I appreciate acrylics because it's so gratifying to see how quickly your work can be processed. With oils, however, I had to learn a lot of patience because the process doesn't happen as quickly. The natural drying process is a much slower process and has taught me a lot about being patient with the process. I was taught to paint with oil and if I had to choose I would have to choose oil because I love the vibrancy of the colors, how gentle it is to mix and mix and mix colors, just like butter.

Her figures and compositions have mystical qualities.

The spiritual world has always fascinated me. The deeper I delve into my heritage and ancestors, the more I realize that being like this is in my blood. Depending on the correlation of the stars, they performed ceremonies and then built houses or planted crops in the area to highlight the power that area had in their lives. I'm obsessed with learning more about it. It inspires me to implement certain things into my life.

For example, something as simple as finding out who my spirit animal is and what it's about, or learning more about the star constellations and what they mean to me and my ancestors. Why did they build pyramids in harmony with the stars and what does it all really mean?

Where do the ideas come from?

When I started painting, I also started studying the greats, and one quote that I took to heart is Leonardo Da Vinci's quote: “Nature is the source of all true knowledge.” It has its own logic , its own laws, it has no effect without a cause and no invention without necessity.”

Since then, I have wanted to explore the area, hike, travel and meet people. A single idea leads to many unfolding ideas, which helps me stay in tune with a deluge of creative artwork.

Where did you learn the style you work in now?

I studied how Frida Kahlo was able to tell her own personal story with brush and brush. I also love Diego Rivera. I just love how they were able to convey a message, a time in history, and that's what I want to do. My work is influenced by how they used canvas, brushes and paints to tell a story.

Diego Rivera is a great inspiration for being able to tell the story of Mexico on huge walls during his lifetime. Frida Kahlo, love and honesty will forever inspire me and finally I love Picasso for breaking the curse of perfectionism and thinking outside the box.

Does teaching influence your own artwork?

Teaching undoubtedly influences my work as I am able to understand and see the different perspectives of my students in many ways that I could never have imagined. It forces me to look at different perspectives and also be creatively inspired.

Is it easier to paint big or small?

For me, it's definitely easier to paint large because you have a lot of space to work with.

What struggles do you have regarding your art?

Being an artist requires a lot of discipline, staying focused is a big part of the job. Keeping an eye on your studio space is a must! You must have a strong backbone and thick skin. Not everyone will appreciate or like your art, but that's okay. Everyone has the right to have their own taste. I'm my own salesperson, networker and marketing guy. If you remain consistent in all these things and give only love to your craft, you can achieve higher levels of success.

Is it challenging to work with groups of students on murals?

For me it's a lot of fun! I love learning from others and their creative process, especially when it's a group of people the creative flow becomes really powerful and exciting.

What's on the horizon?

I'm looking forward to more and new collaborations with other artists, more projects, more murals, but most of all more creativity and community for the world.

Instagram: @70vechild.