Photographs by Karl Halliday
Photographs by Karl Halliday

Diego Ramírez is an artist, writer and facilitator. After a sustained period of experimentation with otherness and institutional critique, he formalised his interests to look at states of ‘falling’. In reference to Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost, who is shown as a corrupt parliamentarian, mourning the fall from heaven in a political satire. Located within contemporary systems, Ramírez creates humorous objects in different mediums that evoke these melancholic, adversarial and supernatural relations. This interest extends to other romantic archetypes, such as the vampire in global capitalism, which he reconfigures to address current issues.

“A falling economy, falling in love, falling from grace, or falling out,” says Ramírez, “reflects systems mediated by media.”

Key cultural factors have shaped the skepticism and darkness of his work. Such as the corruption of recessive Mexico, the apocalyptic zeitgeist of the turn of the century and the religious dimension of identity politics. The combination of these formative experiences led to a state of cynicism that inform his push and pull with concepts, form and context.

In the past, he has embraced the vampire to parody cultural diversity, hijacked Marian apparitions with a dark orb, and observed how devils represent ethnic stereotypes in Hollywood.

He often refines his ideas in writing, where he articulates cultural critiques that feed back into his art. In recent years, Ramírez’ writing has become increasingly performative, often inspired by the humorous voice of the anti-hero, to upset the virtue economy of the art world. This allows him to explore his interest in the fall within the area of creative non-fiction. 

Ramirez acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Land where he lives and works, the Wurundjeri people. He pays his respects to Elders past, present and emerging of the Kulin Nation.