Vargas Bernard, Rafael
Rafael Vargas Bernard, (Puerto Rico, 1979)
Pintor, escultor y performero. Cursó estudios en ingeniería en computadoras en el Instituto de Tecnología de Georgia. Posteriormente culminó su grado en escultura e imagen y movimiento de la Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico.
Born 1979 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Rafael Vargas Bernard is an interdisciplinary visual artist, noise musician, and performer focused on digital art and new media tendencies. Vargas Bernard studied computer engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, sculpture at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, and La Práctica at Beta Local (San Juan, PR). His work explores functional and non-functional systems (including power structures, economic systems, and generative systems) and society’s relationship with these. He creates pieces and experiences that are often interactive and require participation with the intention of provoking dialogue and action. Rafael employs readily accessible materials and technologies, found objects, and a utilitarian aesthetic. Vargas Bernard utilizes performance, sound, programming, sculpture, video, painting, humor, drawing, and digital media in his creative practice. He had a solo booth at VOLTA NY 2018, was reviewed in an article for the Art Newspaper, and had a project published in an article for the October 2018 edition of Art in America. Has presented 2 solo exhibitions at the Mana Contemporary Miami 777 Mall and has a new solo show opening in November at the Art and Culture Center Hollywood. Rafael managed the education program at Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico until 2017 and currently works as Community and Programming co-manager for Mana Contemporary Miami.
