Behind the magic


When Christiaan López-Miró ‘07 was 13 years old, he glimpsed behind the curtain at a magic show. Twenty years later, he attempted to capture with his camera what he saw as a boy: the vulnerability, the mystery…the soul of the magician.

This past year, the School of Art and Art History alumnus’ senior project, “Smoke and Mirrors,” snowballed into his first professional exhibit at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood.

“Smoke and Mirrors” pays homage to those behind the magic rather than their performances. The Golden Panther’s subjects are surrounded by the tools of their craft, although they seem eerily detached from them. Others, like the work titled “Alfie,” are snapshots into the subject’s psyche.

“The exclusivity and intrigue behind them is what I find so exciting,” he says, “yet, at the same time, there is a familiar comfort being among them.”

The Magic Castle

The project itself was an elaborate and long process.

López-Miró, an amateur magician, wanted to shoot at the Magic Castle – a 1908 Victorian mansion in the Hollywood Hills in California, which functions both as a museum and an exclusive club for magicians. Years earlier, when he visited as a boy, he was only allowed on the premises for Sunday brunch.

Already a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, he had to become a member of the Magic Castle to shoot the series. To become a member, he had to find a sponsor. To his surprise, he says, he was ultimately admitted into the mysterious world of magicians that had ignited his imagination. That summer, he hopped on a plane and spent a week in Los Angeles.

Unsure about how his idea would be received by other members, López-Miró went to the club each night, dressed in the required formal attire, and mingled with members describing his vision until 2 a.m.

“My aim was to have this internal dialogue that would resonate with the viewer, confronting them in a way that forces them to stare back” he says of his work.

Interest grew and, as a result, he spent his days hauling around heavy lighting equipment and taking the magicians’ portraits.

“A 6” x 6” camera is essential…allowing for great detail, yet not sacrificing the speed or mobility,” he explains enthusiastically.

He also uses film rather than digital, preferring to develop his photographs the “old-fashioned” way.

The day job

In spite of the success of his first solo show, López-Miró wants to continue working in public relations.

He is an account executive at Hispania, one of only a few Hispanic-owned public relations firms in the United States. Hispania, founded by his parents, boasts accounts such as General Mills, Gerber and Univisión.

Prior to joining Hispania, he worked for five years at NBC6 and Telemundo, helping put together the afternoon newscasts.

He prefers photography as a hobby – “It keeps my creative juices flowing and helps me avoid becoming jaded,” he says – and is free to only pursue projects about which he is passionate.

“Certain inaccessible groups attract me,” he adds.

Consequently, he plans on continuing the magician series after visiting conventions around the United States. He then plans to venture to Cassadega, Fla. – a town of psychics – for his next project.

López-Miró and his wife Jessica ’06, whom he met in the photography dark room at FIU, have a two-year-old son named Xavier.

“Life is good. Life is really good,” he says.

— Sissi Aguila ’99
Editorial Services

-FIU-

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