Valentina Pinci and her Mandala Journey

isabellariv
Jan 23, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Jan 28, 2019

From Massachusetts to Puerto Rico, young and rising "Mandalaera" joins Mexican artists for apprenticeship

By Valentina Pinci — Mandalaera Artworks by Valentina Pinci

Currently living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Valentina Pinci plans to make a name for herself in the art scene by learning new techniques as an apprentice of renowned artists in Mexico. The twenty-four year old's art, which is predominantly based on the zentangle and fractals styles, can be appreciated from works dating back to her high school years. Her vivid and eccentric art began as doodles and sketches which later became paintings and murals throughout her home.

Back in September of 2017, she started her instagram account for @Mandalaera as a way to showcase her work to her Puerto Rican friends and admirers. Now, as a former psychology major from UPRM (University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez), the Puerto Rican-Italian brings to life her own prominent twist into translating the perceptions and functions of the human mind within her own mandala art.

Your inspiration for Mandalaera?

“Carl Jung’s interpretation of the Buddhist mandala; where the consciousness meets subconscious, the essence of being.”

Like many artists around the world, stereotypical indications of a "starving" lifestyle as an artist was an undeniable truth to Valentina's childhood. From an early age, she was warned about choosing a path within the arts. Today she is not only grateful but feels as though art has saved her.

Intrigued by her drive and originality, knowing the purpose of her art was paramount for Auténtix to question. The Mandalaera artist expresses how she intends "to bring people together, to create consciousness about the self, our emotional states and their connection to the world we live in."

How would you define your art?

“Spiritually healing creations.”

Today

Recently starting her adventures abroad as an apprentice of multidisciplinary artist Antonio Saracho, Pinci has been able to continue her own signature mandalas with new techniques like glass, mosaics, and carpentry work. And, although she prefers mediums like acrylics, aerosols, and stained glass, she is open to learn other creative methods. In addition to working with Saracho, she is also apprenticing with Senkoe, who in contrast is an urban muralist known for working with the medium of spray paint around Mexico and big cities in the U.S. such as NYC, Chicago, and Miami. For many months now Valentina has been assisting him with various projects in Tulum, Mexico.

Valentina Pinci original stained glass lamp

Pinci further shares how this entire experience has transformed her life and catapulted her career within Hispanic artists in Mexico and the United States. She explains a shift of focus in making beach mandalas out of organic material. Her most recent works were exhibited at the Moonbow Festival in Papaya Playa Project, Tulum. Excited, she states how all the local children (los Amigos de la Esquina) offered to lend a hand in completing the project. She and her team spray painted sticks as they organized them to form a rainbow in the center of the mandala. The rest of the design was made entirely out of coconuts, mulch, dried seaweed, straw, and wood.

What's next?

In the next few months, Senkoe and her are expecting to work together on multiple projects around southeast Mexico. In her final thoughts, she is happy to return to Tulum and paint a new mural with "los Amigos de la Esquina". She also complements them on how fun and incredibly creative the group is to work with. Later this March she plans to travel to India for six weeks, where they have pending murals and an art festival in Hyderabad. During her stay she plans to meet local artisans with the intention of incorporating them into Hilo de Vida, a small startup her mother created with the hopes of providing a wider market for the indigenous population and help them sell their products at a just price.