Meet the artist / Isamar Medina
Artist Isamar Medina
Isamar Medina (she/her/they) is an artist living in Chicago. I talked to her about the inspirations behind her sexy girls in sad limbo, her love of Japanese manga and the pressures women face to act a certain way. Oh, and she also has an amazing dinner party menu.
How do you describe your style of art?
This is a tough question. I'm never sure how to categorize my art, but I'd like to say my art is beautiful and soft. I draw inspiration and techniques from Japanese manga, Shunga, Italian comics and vintage medical/science illustration. All of these styles have a certain finesse to them that I try to mimic.
Who are some of the artists in these areas that you admire?
Some of my favorite manga artists are Ai Yazawa, Naoko Takeuchi & the manga group CLAMP. I love the stylization of their characters and just how beautifully they draw hair and limbs. Italian comic artists I adore, Milo Manara & Guido Crepx. Their art is simply glamorous, and tasteful.
And the vintage medical/science illustration is super intriguing. What is it about these styles of drawings that you love?
I think my favorite thing about vintage medical/science illustration is how detailed and obsessive the work is. The line flow, the pressure, the elegance. People really had to be as precise as they could because these images were important. In a way, they seem otherworldly and untouchable. I have a huge appreciation for making something normal other worldly.
How did you come to be an artist “drawing sexy girls in sad limbo”? Who are these girls?
Drawing sad girls in a sexy limbo came on after a late-night convo with my husband. I was half asleep and he said I was in a "sexy limbo" like my drawings. I know he was joking, but I ended up loving that. My girls do live in a made-up world in my head. Nameless. Forever waiting and playing. Just like limbo.
As for who they are, I'm not sure. My imagination runs wild and I start to randomly imagine girls in absurd scenarios and places. Sometimes they're scenarios I want to be in, but am too shy to say.
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I love that you've elevated "limbo". I feel like there's always so much pressure to be doing and doing and never stopping. Everyone always has to be hustling and moving. A state of limbo implies taking time, waiting, and even letting the muses come to you. You've made it sexy but do you ever feel a pressure to keep creating to avoid the waiting place?
Thank you so much. Taking time for yourself and "nesting" is important. When your brain is constantly overthinking, you start to question your self-worth and that's when you start spiraling. I am navigating those emotions. You have a fear of stagnation when you're not creating, and then you forget you're doing this for yourself.
The internet, social media and consumerism have artists forgetting their purpose and self-worth. Makes me sad. I'm getting better tho. As I age, I start to care less and less about being performative online.
I like to use limbo as a safe space in my art. When I draw my girls in their bedroom, or just relaxing; I use it as a haven where they can be themselves. No rushing. Not putting on a show for anyone. Just peeling off the suit and melting into your surroundings, even if it's for a bit.
You’ve mentioned on Instagram that your art “explores the hypocritical social taboos women face”. Can you go into more detail about that and why it’s so important to you?
Sure. Ever since I was younger, I paid attention to the double standards women face in our society. I grew up in a religious household with 3 brothers. No sisters. I was treated differently because of my gender. I had more responsibilities and expectations, while at the same time having the least freedom. It used to infuriate me. I'm not angry at my parents about it anymore, as I grew up and realized it was how they were raised plus culture shock. I was just tired of being sheltered.
Being scolded for the way I dressed, judged and sexualized by strangers as a teenager gave me a twisted reality check. I wanted to crush everyone around me and encouraged my friends to do the same. I still encourage that message strongly. I don't ever want any woman to ever feel like she is less because of their gender.
It saddens me so much that this is such a common story. My story is similar. For me, it was boyfriends and male bosses who would shame me for wearing something or acting a certain way. Even the school I went to shamed girls for acting a certain way, and it's really damaging because as a teenager we are impressionable. How did your upbringing influence your art?
I'm sorry you had to go thru that! Especially because those are people you would think have your back. I just laugh because those people shaming and "correcting" are often deviants themselves. They just love projecting. Since I was a sheltered kid, there wasn't much for me to do around the house besides diving into comics and art. It gave me time to appreciate other people's art while having fun with my own. As I got older, themes of freedom and confinement were big for me. I can only go back to my teenage self and remember how she felt & still feel for her.
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We're hellbent on elevating sexual expression. What does freedom of sexual expression and pleasure look like to you?
Freedom of sexual expression and pleasure to me looks like the biggest act of self-love without being judged. Sexuality has no box, it's a spectrum. As long as you are keeping yourself safe and others have fun and play. If you are empowered by modesty and keeping to yourself, also do that. Whatever you choose, you have the right to feel safe.
I absolutely agree with this. I always tell my kids, you don't have to understand what someone else is going through but you've got to respect their space to explore who they are.
RIght. We're all so different, as long as respect for the other person comes first then you're good. We have to learn to have these conversations with people without feeling awkward about it. I'm grateful I have the space to explore! Opening up takes a while, but vulnerability is sexy.
If you could invite any five people to dinner (living or past), who would they be, what meal would you serve and where would you sit to eat?
Haha okay, this one is fun. If I could host a dinner & invite any five people, I would make sizzling orange juice glazed, juicy, tender chicken breasts. The sides would be scallops over a parsnip puree, charred leeks and compressed apples. A Ricotta cheese dip with cherry tomatoes and a side of steamed carrots. For dessert my mom's rice pudding (It's the best okayyy)
As to who I would invite, I'd invite Doja Cat because I've been an avid listener for years. Fafi, my favorite street artist, she's a big reason I draw today. Ville Valo from the band HIM. Prince because he's my hero & Manga artist Ai Yazaway. If anyone can't make it then Vivienne Westwood <3
I'm not sure where I would sit and eat, I'd just have heart eyes the whole time admiring all the creative geniuses around me!
Um maybe I can crash your dinner coz this sounds amazing!! Also, any chance you can share the recipe for your mum's rice pudding? It's one of my favourite desserts and I think my readers would love it!
Haha! You're definitely invited. Sadly, I don't know how to make it, that's why I call my mom whenever I'm craving some! I'm hoping to learn because it is something I'd like to teach my children when they grow up.