What Are You Working On Now? Quindo Miller

What are you working on now? is a Couch in the Desert series where we ask artists what they are making and thinking about in and outside the studio.

Quindo Miller

Three (?) years ago, I got some old family footage digitized and started to think about what to do with it. I always knew I wanted to video edit something together. For a while, I’ve been thinking about my family and the traditions that we hold and observed that we always sing karaoke. This suddenly became very obvious to me that I should make karaoke videos. Karaoke videos always have random videos playing behind them that don’t always make sense with the song.

Quindo Miller, Horse With No Name Karaoke, America, 2023.

Life feels a bit like that, so right now I’m mixing and editing and seeing what happens. I’ve been making a few videos, with some constraints: trying to choose songs from the time-period these home videos were made, which is loosely from 1993 to 2005. I came up with the title ENDLESS because, in those childhood and young adult years, that time frame (for me, anyway) seems to stretch endlessly, marked by its own realm of possibilities, distinct from the constraints of adulthood.

Quindo Miller, *Performance test at the Mystery Ranch,* 2023.

ENDLESS is a proposed performance-style installation that explores the recurring themes of home, solitude, and repetition. It aims to transport viewers to a vibrant, playful atmosphere, encouraging self-expression through song. The installation offers a chance for vulnerability, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in my portrayal of the relationship between Guam and the West. Taking inspiration from Justin Favela’s celebrated performance piece, "Family Fiesta," known for fostering connections through joyful gatherings, ENDLESS engages in a dialogue with Favela's work by infusing my cultural traditions, primarily through the incorporation of karaoke.

Quindo Miller, Believe karaoke, Cher, 2023.

Born in Guam, Quindo Miller spent their formative years developing an interest in isolation, rituals, and repetition as they explored the island territory’s jungle environment. In 2012, after moving to the mainland united states, they earned a BFA at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Miller’s work investigates and expands their early preoccupations through the mediums of painting, drawing, installation, video, and sound. They have exhibited at venues in Nevada, California, and New York, including the Goldwell Open Air museum, 5th wall gallery, La Matadora gallery, the Las Vegas Contemporary Art Center, and Hereart. in 2015 they exhibited in Uttarakhand, India, as part of their PECAH artist residency. Miller currently lives and works in Las Vegas.

See more of Quindo’s work on their website and on Instagram.

All images courtesy Mikayla Whitmore.

Posted and published by Lyssa Park on February 25, 2024.