INVERSION GALLERIES (invg)

K.C. DE LEON (kcdl)

invg: why the shift from modeling to art?

kcdl:  modeling was never about my image, it was about making images. it is a form of artistic expression which allowed me develop a greater sense of self awareness by playing through different character roles.  i was an art piece. yet in reality, i am just a philosopher at heart with a curious mind and wildly creative tendencies.  i miss the adrenaline rush of the runway.  i like to move, and so does my mind.  i often study a variety of subjects concurrently.  however, art is the only modality that truly allows me to express my thoughts and ideas because it is both partial and impartial at the same time. 

invg: what does that mean (partial and impartial)?

kcdl: it refers to an organizational spectrum.  the information we receive from the outside is always partial or incomplete, it is up to each one of us to makes sense of the inputs we are given and compute the data in our own way. our internal database (thoughts, memories, experience) - when resolved - is neutral or impartial.  everything that i produce revolves around this theory of partial and impartial operation. it's a pattern that i see within all aspects of creation.

invg: how did your interest in technology come about?

kcdl: of course living in silicon valley has had a certain amount of cultural influence. technology is everywhere. at some point i began to see technology as a mirror of our collective psychology, then furthermore a paradigm of spirituality.  technology has an awesome way of relating to the void and to completion, to limitlessness and limitation. i see my innermost self as a systems manager of sorts.  i am constantly managing my personal data and freeing up space both on my electronics and in my mind. the restart button, the blank canvas, the peaceful mountain top - space is one of my highest values; as is silence. 

invg: speaking of silence, what happened to the books that you were writing in years past?

kcdl: writing books takes a certain kind of mindset - not the kind of mindset that lives in present time.  sometimes when i dive deep into literary content, i feel disconnected from everyday life.  so rather than forcing myself to lay it all out in type, i often switch mediums often to maintain artistic momentum. the project narratives i am constructing are still very much alive. 

invg: define success.

kcdl: self-actualization. there is no greater achievement than to become one's self and to live up to the highest aspect of who we are.

invg: where do you see yourself in 10 years?

kcdl: same place i am now. surrounded by who i love and what i love. fulfilled.  time does not change us, it refines us. eventually i might like to compose my own piano music. ultimately i see myself as a director, designer, choreographer, and a composer.  professionally, i am constantly improving upon my ability to make order out of chaos.  personally, i am at peace.

invg: will you ever go back to modeling?

kcdl:  not likely. there are plenty of beautiful people in the world who can do the job.  i prefer the production side of the industry and have become become super protective of my privacy over the years.  there is much to say about rights to one's image and rights to one's name; a discussion to be continued once refined.

invg: favorite superhero and why?

kcdl: optimus prime. i suppose because he is a transformer and "more than meets the eye."  i can relate to being unseen, underestimated, and deeply sensing things.  there is an altruistic part of me that feels called to action when people are in need. that's why i feel strongly about voicing the concepts that each gallery represents. i see how people and the planet can benefit from the perspectives i have to offer, and besides, when we are connected with a greater purpose, it makes the world a better place for everyone; collectively.

invg: what about the non-profit you had aimed to establish, any update?

kcdl: it is one thing to have a great vision, it is another thing to execute an entire business model from the ground up.  i've done the initial leg work, however, as individuals we can only do so much. once the proper resources have been gathered, and the right partnerships are in play, the organization can move forward. i trust that my creative endeavors will generate a substantial amount of community support in the long run.