Biography
I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1995, into a cult centered around David Berg, my recently deceased great-grandfather. The Children of God, as it was known in the 70’s, boasted 10,000 members in it’s heyday, with commune homes spanning nearly every continent. My childhood coincided with its gradual fade into obscurity, with most of its members becoming disillusioned and leaving, either as family units, or rebelling youths. My family remained a solid support structure throughout my upbringing as the landscape shifted around us year by year. Our Christian faith remained a steadfast fixture amongst changing doctrines and visions of the future.
The two places that would be called home during my childhood were Houston, TX, and the island nation of Taiwan. I never properly assimilated into either culture, due to ideolgical barriers put up by the cult in opposition to American society, and the language barrier faced when trying to learn the notoriously difficult mandarin language. My homeschooling reinforced the social and ideological isolation, the effects of which would linger years into my twenties.
The freedom of thought that came with attending community college at San Jacinto College in 2013 led to a reexamining of my faith, and its ultimate rejection. The perspective I gained as a societal outsider and once true believer influences much of my work. I was raised with the belief that I could change the world, a mindset that still provides me with both the ambition to shoot for the stars, and a fire inside that drives me to fight against the injustice of the world through the beauty of art.
My Journey as a balloon artist
Balloon twisting, which was a common form of busking and community outreach in the cult, provided a valuable avenue of financial stability for our family as we established ourselves apart from the group. I first learned the art of balloons from my parents at the age of sixteen and within weeks I had mastered their designs. Luckily there was a thriving balloon community on YouTube to push me further. From 2012 to 2019 I twisted at birthday parties, restaurants, parades, festivals; all the places you’d expect to find balloons. I began processing my emotions through balloon art in 2019, first with The Entertainer, dealing with my depression and loneliness, and Memories, which expressed the grief of losing my older sister.
The pandemic changed everything in 2020. My livelihood disappeared in the blink of an eye. The personal and societal turmoil saddled me with a whole new set of issues to work through, with all the time in the world to experiment. In 2021 I decided to recreate some of my favorite art in balloons as a way of learning composition and lighting. The positive reception for my balloon version of Fransisco Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son was a turning point for me. I decided to embrace the dark artistic sensibilities that I’d always repressed for fear of damaging my family friendly brand. Shedding those limitations gave me the freedom to find my artistic voice and the inspiration to approach the medium in a brand new way.
The reputation I gained with this new creative output granted me the opportunity to begin teaching at various balloon artist conventions around the country. First at Kapitol Kidvention in DC, then at Twist and Shout in Los Angeles. Hardy and Nance Studios gave me the chance to achieve my first major milestone with a groundbreaking balloon art installation as part of Houston ARTCRAWL 2023. Currently I’m working on “Out Of The Strong, Something Sweet”, an exhibition to be hosted at The Jung Center August 19th-24th.
I could never have imagined where I’d be several years ago. The future seems just as mysterious, but full of adventure, art, and plenty of balloons.
F.A.Q.
How long does it take to build the sculptures?
Most of my sculptures take between 20-30 hours to twist over 2-3 days. My largest project, “Messengers”, took two weeks and several hundred labor-hours to complete.
How long do the balloons last?
They look their best within three days, which is the timeframe I give myself for most of the work I make. Larger projects can last up to two weeks by staggering the building stages from most basic to most detailed construction, and being mindful which techniques are used.
Have you tried preserving the balloons?
Quality photographs are my preferred method of preservation. I’ve seen successful uses of epoxy on smaller balloon sculptures, but I’ve always said that feels like embalming a corpse. Why fight against such a fundamental aspect of the medium?
Aren’t balloons plastic?
No! The balloons I use are made from biodegradable latex, derived from tree sap. And besides that, they’re 99% air! A large balloon installation, once popped, fits into a rather small garbage bag.
Can you create balloon art for our event?
Yes! Just send me a message and I can work with you on ideas and a quote.