My Story

I was running, I was running scared
Scared of myself, scared of my own power
Then one day I stopped and said hi to the pain
That changed everything
- David Shaw

In the last year I suffered a severe break from reality. I was triggered by many of my past experiences, many of which were dormant until a moment awakened it. My body held the score of something that I was trying to understand and manage. I was diagnosed with PTSD and had to come to terms with the reality of the person I became when I was triggered and pushed outside my limits. I hurt many people in my life. I affected my family, my job, and friendships with my actions.

Looking back at it I was reliving my past, it felt so real, and I believed I was a kid facing the same world I was so scared to face. In the course of making this show, I came to terms with so much, and used art to help me cope and make sense of my world. Art helped me ground myself and saved my life.

This show is titled Someone / Somewhere for that reason. Someone out there is facing and going through their own discovery. Somewhere there is a person or group of people affected by untreated mental health. This is where the stigma has to be addressed and normalized.

My life has been on the line for a long time. 11 years ago I survived a car accident that should’ve killed me. The scars on my head are a result of the accident. The piece “Lucha Interna” is a self portrait that holds the same scar patterns on its head. A reminder of what happened and an event that left me with a traumatic brain injury. That injury affected how I saw and interpreted the world, and ultimately my mental health.

The accident made me face my fear, I always ran from a lot of pain. I began to face it by using car parts in my work. I wanted to use materials that played a vital role in my life. The VW Beetle was the perfect way to bring that and my culture together. This car is the most produced car in history, and the last beetle was produced in Puebla, Mexico. Beetles have been a staple of Mexican culture for decades. This was the first car I remember seeing and interacting as a kid. My dream was to own one someday. I have yet to own a “Running Beetle” but I bought two body shells that were used for this show.
-Joaquin Soto

In artist Joaquin Soto’s solo exhibition, Someone / Somewhere he brings his unique perspective to life through inspiring and thought-provoking sculptures crafted from scrap materials. Many made using materials from iconic cars by brands such as BMW, Fiat and Volkswagon.

This show seeks to diffuse the stigma surrounding mental health and provide crucial resources for those in need.

Growing up in a traditional Hispanic household where mental health was rarely discussed, Joaquin uses his art to open dialogues and promote understanding.

I’m wanting to begin the conversation of what will be my life mission. Using my art to raise awareness to mental health, social issues, and my own personal struggles in ways that not many middle age, Hispanic males would dare to be vulnerable to.
-Joaquin Soto

Joaquin Soto - Studio Photos
(click each photo to enlarge)