Marianella

An Interview by Bergen Flom

All Photography by Jon Del Real

I met Mari through Whittier College…

We both happened to work in the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI). This office is a beautiful oasis in a historically white institution. It’s walls are filled with vibrant social justice posters and students with confident smiles, smiles that instantly make you aware that they’ve got what it takes to fight long and hard for what they believe in. The OEI is run by a woman named Jenny. Sometimes we call her Jenny G because, well, she’s a G. Jenny walks into every space with her heels, red lipstick, colorful earrings and demands respect. You can tell she’s been told no too many times and has put in substantial effort to turn every “no” into a “yes.”

This student run-space is full of different perspectives and folks fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ folks, undocumented folks, women, POC, workers, indigenous folks, etc. This is the setting where I learned very quickly that Mari and I shared similar values of equality, justice and representation. Along with sharing a passion for grabbing oppressive structures in our society and smashing them under our feet, we both love fashion. That may sound generic and uninteresting, but I’m convinced our love for fashion is somehow different than the masses. We constantly send each other cute clothes on Instagram and, once again, viscerally succumb to the grip of capitalism. Mari’s style is colorful and confident as heck with chunky air-forces, big ass earrings and perfectly thrifted denim.

Mari is 20 years old and soon to be 21 (yes she’s a gemini). She’s from from Culver City and surely walks with a similar confidence to thee Jenny G. Read below to hear her answers to my questions about her art brand “999”, her artistic journey and where she’s headed from here.

Why painting?

When I was younger, I tried many different forms of visual art, but I think I clung onto acrylic painting more specifically because the material itself is very flexible. You can make it look like many different textures without having to wait to dry like you do with oil paint.

What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment with your art?

Being able to put monetary value onto my art, to me art is so subjective. I feel very authoritative, I guess, putting a value on something that is going to be interpreted by so many people in so many different ways. So in a way it's achieving autonomy with my art!

What do you want people to feel when they see your work?

I want them to feel free from socially constructed identities, especially those tied to sex, gender and sexual orientation.

How would you describe the look of your art? What's the inspiration for it?

My art is extremely vibrant and simplistic, I would say, but I've heard many different opinions so I don't know! My biggest inspiration I would say is the LGBTQ+ people that I grew up with and was exposed to in LA. Their confidence and joy of life when they are fully living is something so inspiring to me.

What does Los Angeles mean to you? How has it influenced you as an artist?

Los Angeles is the city of artists in my eyes. Unfortunately, there's so much competition and so many people that some art gets lost/forgotten in the mix. This was a big factor in my life because I never saw a point of exposing my art because there are so many artists that need to be seen, I thought "I'm just another artist". But I realized it's not about affecting a huge audience, but rather, your everyday people you talk to. There’s real beauty in that.

What is "999" and its significance to you?

Ahhh I could talk about this forever but pretty much 999 is a significant number in numerology because it symbolizes the "most divine number". 999 itself means destined guardian angels that are placed into your life to place you on your correct path. On my 18th birthday I found out my 2 best friends were born in 1999 just like me and both lived in apartment 9's AND their personal angel numbers (which have to do when and where you're born) are also 9's. So basically, I am in full belief that they, as well as other people, are put into my life for a reason: to fulfill a purpose.

What are your goals for the New Year? The decade?

To be more confident with my artwork and its impact as well putting more time aside to make art. For the decade, I would say becoming financially independent and successful without allowing too much of my essence to go.

What does this transitional period mean to you?

It symbolizes a lot of learning about myself and facing my emotions head on rather than pushing them aside for later.

Share a self-care/self-love tip that works for you!

So I'm a big planner-person and what I've been doing is scheduling friend time and alone time. Often we think planners are for homework, work, meetings etc.. and we don't think about our own basic necessities like socializing and spending time alone: schedule those times in!

Advice to other people who want to get more creative but don't know where to start?

Literally just do it, even if it's for yourself and you aren't ready to show anyone! What you feel while expressing yourself is key to understanding where you stand in the art world.

Currently, Mari is working on launching her 999 website and producing stickers, hoodies, tote bags etc. You can stay updated with her on her Instagram @getsumsun.