Cesar Viveros has a thing for paper.  He believes the process itself of producing it should be a revered practice, hence he has used it for many decades in many forms for visual expression in his search for traditional practices that inspires him to open paths in his experiential journey.  From paper fabrication to paint his ideas with natural pigments in his personal amoxtli or painted book, to prints with serigrafía (silkscreen), he has been flirting with Mexican cartonería almost all his life, allowing to mix imagination, emotion, and tradition using simple materials such as paper and paste to create a diverse array of subjects such as piñatas, diablitos, Day of the Dead miniatures and monumental skeletal themed art pieces, alebrijes and Toritos.  In his exhibition he wants to share the few pieces he has been able to keep for himself through decades along with new work, sharing visual stories that speak of his love for paper.

For his AAA3A exhibition artist Cesar Viveros aims to share a selection of pieces he has cherished over decades, alongside new works.  Through these visual stories, he endeavors to convey his profound love for paper and the rich tapestry of experiences it has allowed him to create.

Cesar found his way to the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program through a unique journey, initially working as a deep-sea diver on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.  During downtime, this self-taught artist painted murals.  His connection with art traces back to his early childhood in the city of Veracruz, where he crafted artifacts from clay sourced from his backyard, driven by a passion for creating beauty.  In his teenage years, he painted murals at his middle school and, alongside friends, explored various art mediums to generate income during high school.  Always drawn to large-scale works, Cesar's talent for community collaboration has positioned him as one of the organization's most prolific artists.  A notable highlight in his career was when Pope Francis signed the mural he painted, titled The Sacred Now, commemorating the pontiff's visit.

His artistic endeavors go beyond community involvement, as he interprets his Mesoamerican and colonial cultural heritage throughout his vision.  This is evident in a diverse range of disciplines such as creating Day of the Dead altars, working with clay and feathers, constructing soil-based installations, sculpting with cement, and utilizing various other mediums.  His approach involves using any available medium that enables him to recreate tangible memories from his distant past.  He aims to explore diverse avenues for articulating my personal and subjective encounters spanning decades in both the US and Mexico, centering on themes of freedom and the autonomy of individuality.  Engaging in community initiatives significantly shapes his self-reflection.

web:  cesarmural.com