I’ve known Paulina Mendoza since we where together in 8th grade. I was Paulina’s first friend when she moved to El Paso from Mexico. I thought she was nice and therefore we should be friends. We practically have our middle school friendship transcribed in a notebook that we used to pass around between classes.
Paulina has always been different. She always stood out. I think it's the fact that she wasn’t from El Paso. She had a different point of view on life and she was always sincere and blunt when giving advice. I like that about her. She sees the world in a very honest way and she isn’t afraid of communicating her thoughts about anything. She is smart, creative and extremely talented. I am lucky to have met her so young and to have been able to work with her throughout the years.
I think it all started when we partnered in our science class to make a presentation on Darwin. We bought foam letters and made our presentation board the best in the class (or so we thought). Five years ago it continued with an impromptu photo shoot in her house with friends. Why? Because we where bored and wanted to be cool. Have cool photos because why the heck not? Years later, we continue to collaborate in each other projects or just making random footage of us improvising with wigs.
We haven’t always lived in the same place. She left, then came back, then we both left, then I came back, then she came back, then she left and years later we meet again in San Marcos, TX. It has been three years of seeing how we both continue to grow in all senses, and I get to see how she evolved into the amazing artist that she is today.
I am telling you guys. She is the real deal. She has ideas coming out of her rear end every five seconds and she is so smart that you can never have a boring conversation with her. Asking her to be on my blog where I feature brilliant and talented minds was a no brainer…
Tell me a little bit about yourself (I probably know everything but the public doesn't).
I can’t pronounce my name in English, that’s where the p and in purple came in. I like rain. And m&m’s. Your face. movies. coffee even though I shouldn’t drink it. ice ream. touching stuff. food. pillows. music.
You’ve been a creative person for most of your life. At what point did you know you chose to study Photography?
It was not my first choice as a major in college, even though I’ve always been fond of the camera. I guess I decided for Photography after an epiphany, one of those existencial crisis that everyone has at least once a day. After starting the program I felt I had made the right choice.
You’ve ventured in different mediums. What are they and which are your favorite? Why?
I think it is important to find the appropriate medium for whatever idea you might want to explore. Of course my main one if photography but I’ve had the opportunity to work with video and painting. I want to dive into sculpture because I feel like installation pieces are calling me.
What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on? Why?
My thesis project. It might have been the circumstances in which it was executed but I had a lot of fun doing it. Mainly because I got to do whatever I wanted in front of the camera and see how much I could push it in an art context. It proved to me once more that it does matter where you present your work.
You have a deep fascination with voyeurism and exploring different characters (We’ve Met Before, Haven’t We?). What is it that attracts you to explore this characters?
Yes, that was my thesis project! I have a deep fascination with cognitive psychology. I don’t know if its a result of being an observer or being an observer is a result of that interest, but I like to believe I’m good at figuring people out. This project was also a way to be able to relate myself to everyone else.
You have talked about redefining Feminism. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Yes, I do have a dislike for the way it is approached now a days. I’m actually working with this very intelligent very brilliant friend, Caro Stone. We both come from different perspectives but I feel like we have a very similar interest in the subject.
What projects are you working on right now?
Aside from the project with Caro Stone, I’m doing some pantings and videos right now. I’m also interning at The Museum of Human Achievements, a place with a terrific vision and full of amazingly intelligent artists. I do have a job in which I get to put into action my marketing abilities. I’m part of a renowned company that serves to satisfy the public’s necessities by offering them the means to have a visual outside of their personal space. I also decorate people’s identity. (I sell windows and paint faces).
Who or what inspires you the most?
When you find it impossible to sleep everything seems fascinating.
Can you give one piece of advice for the readers?
Yes. [If you want the advice.... You can contact her at www.paulinamendoza.com]
How To Critically Approach An Adult Recreational Video Excerpt
Keep posted for an upcoming timeline of our collaborations throughout the years.
