Miguel Novelo in /digital room/

Note by Guest Juror Dorothy Santos
As someone who is critical of immersive experiences–in large part due to how augmented, interactive work, and virtual reality have played such a huge role in my earlier research–Novelo’s work caused me to pause and pay attention. I found his proposal and concept of a body-less character moving through the internet in three stages of discovery and quest, the “body” in a quasi-infinite space of the digital, compelling and expansive. After reviewing his portfolio, I was struck by his work, its execution, and the wide variety of digital and analog tools that show his command of the chosen medium.

Artist Bio
An experimental media artist, filmmaker, and cultural event creator, Miguel Novelo is currently an MFA candidate at Stanford University. He was born in the peninsula of Yucatan Mexico. Self-taught in video making, he has spearheaded multiple community movements in his hometown of Campeche Mexico. These experiences have allowed Novelo’s practice to evolve into an immersive, socially engaged, and expanded form of media. He received his AA from TAI Escuela Universitaria de Artes in Madrid Spain (2013), and a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute (2018). Novelo has exhibited pieces and short films in cities around the globe, such as Paris (Mex-Parismental), Madrid (VIDEOTALENTOS), Mexico City (MUAC, Shorts Mexico), Tijuana (Concurso Nacional de Video Experimental), Morelia (FICM), San Francisco (If so, what?), Oakland (Pro Arts), Sheffield (Sheffield Doc Fest), and more.