Mijail Rodrigo Bazoalto Medrano
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Pandemic Funeral: Finding Hope and HealingBolivia
Rodrigo "Miro" Bazoalto is a storyteller, visual artist, graphic designer and entrepreneur. He founded his own creative studio in 2011, where he works with a collective of illustrators, designers, writers and artists on projects for the creative industry (the “orange economy”). He has organized exhibitions and conferences in several cultural institutions. His cultural ventures include “Comic Bolivia,” a non-profit community and website dedicated to the promotion of Bolivian comics and authors that also creates events and generates spaces for new artists to sell their products. Miro has helped to create comic competitions and cultural spaces such as the “Café Cómic” and the “Integral Course of Graphic Narrative.”
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Pandemic Funeral: Finding Hope and Healing
The community-centered art exhibition and educational initiative addressed the emotional and psychological impact of the pandemic on individuals in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with a particular focus on young artists.
Through a curated collection of comics, fanzines, and artwork created by emerging artists from Comics de Impacto, the exhibition was a visual representation of the collective experiences and resilience during challenging times. Through a combination of visual art, symbolic installations, and participatory activities, the exhibition incorporated elements of Bolivian culture and symbolism and invited the more than 200 visitors to engage emotionally and intellectually with the pandemic's end. Building upon the success of the exhibition, Mijail is engaging in discussions with psychologists to develop guided materials inspired by its themes and to create resources for navigating post-pandemic challenges. The exhibition will be showcased at Galería Kiosko in 2024.
"[The exhibition] emphasized the value of creating physical experiences where individuals can immerse themselves in tangible art forms. This revelation inspires us to explore innovative ways to blend digital art with physical spaces, ensuring people can both view and physically engage with the artwork, fostering deeper connections and experiences." - Mijial Rodrigo Bazoalto Medrano
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Creative Residencies - Stories of a Pandemic
The residencies were designed for young artists to create web-comics based on their current reality during the pandemic. The artists received studio space, mentoring, equipment and tools to create original comics. This opened up significant conversations with audiences about the pandemic's impact on lives. The resident artists gained recognition as relevant creators in their communities. Please visit www.comicsdeimpacto.com to read the webcomics created throughout this project.
"They made me think and reflect on the stories I tell and develop…before I thought about making comics just for fun, but now I understand that apart from being something fun, they have a certain impact on the community.” - Project Participant
IVLP Exchange Experience
Mijail participated in the IVLP Project Promoting Social Change through the Arts in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360, in partnership with Global Ties ABQ, Global Santa Fe, WorldOrlando and Global Minnesota. He also participated in the IVLP Project Promoting Social Change through the Arts in 2022, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development, in partnership with Colorado Springs World Affairs Council and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.
Mijail's exchange experience led him to develop his IVLP Impact Award Project: "My IVLP experience taught me the value of empathy, the importance of embracing diversity, and the power of storytelling. It ignited a fire within me to use my artistic skills and platform to create a space for reflection, connection, and healing."
U.S. Communities Visited in 2022
Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; New York City, NY
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021
Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Albuquerque, NM; Minneapolis, MN; Santa Fe, NM