How Technology Reshapes Art and Connection: The Work of Miguel Caba, BFA ’25
How does technology transform the way art is made? For Miguel Caba, BFA ’25, it acts as a reinforced link that connects continents and expands creative bounds. With cutting-edge tools like a laser cutter, CNC router, and 3D printers, Miguel merges traditional craftwork with modern innovation.
In today’s world, the ability to communicate across oceans in mere seconds might seem ordinary, yet it remains profoundly transformative. This technological advancement has not only bridged physical distance but also allowed Miguel to remain deeply connected to their family while exploring bold, boundary-pushing artistic experiments. The wonder of turning distance into the opportunity for connection gives Miguel an endless canvas for innovation, blending gratitude for these tools with amazement at the possibilities they unlock.
The concept of family is central to Miguel’s practice. “Homes are meaningful places,” they reflect. “They reflect the people that occupy them.” But home, for Miguel, is not always a physical location—it’s an emotional anchor. Though they have yet to visit their grandmother’s house in the Philippines, it’s a home they imagine through grainy iPhone photos she shares with them and their mom. These fragmented images inspire sculptural paintings that evoke the essence of home, blending elements of balikbayan boxes—care packages sent by Filipino migrants—with household objects like curtains, couches, and plants. By translating these objects into art, Miguel explores the universal longing for connection and the resilience of family across distances.
At SMFA, Miguel’s access to tools like the laser engraver has opened new possibilities. By etching intricate textures into wood, they blend traditional techniques with modern digital elements. Miguel has learned to “curve” their paintings around precise shapes cut using a CNC router and incorporate photos into sculptural paintings. “I want people to interact with my work physically,” Miguel explains. “To walk around it, to ask, ‘How do I engage with this?’” One recent untitled piece even required viewers to peer behind the artwork to fully understand it, challenging traditional expectations of how art is experienced. The wooden piece veers away from the wall on which it is installed at eye level. On it lies an illustration on both sides, contrasting indoor and outdoor imagery.
Mentorship has been another cornerstone of Miguel’s growth. Collaborations with faculty like Professor of the Practice Lauren O’Connor-Korb, whom Miguel initially encountered in the digital fabrication lab, became a key figure as they teamed up for Summer Scholars. Her thoughtful questions challenged Miguel to think critically about their work while also offering encouragement to continue pushing their creative endeavors. “Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing I’m doing well,” they say, “but being challenged helps me grow.” That growth continued when another mentor, Professor of the Practice Yanyun Chen who is from Singapore, encouraged Miguel to consider how their work could operate outside North America, expanding their perspective. Miguel considers Chen a lifelong mentor. Additionally, Silvia Botinelli, a Visual Material Studies Senior Lecturer, has provided invaluable feedback, helping Miguel refine concepts and ideas, relate their artwork to historical art movements, and recommended artists to further research. Miguel reflects on the importance of mentorship, saying, “When someone truly understands your work and pushes you with constructive feedback like, ‘I hear you, but have you thought about this?’ it pulls you out of tunnel vision and encourages real growth.”
In a world where technology can both connect and isolate, Miguel’s art becomes a bridge, inviting viewers to reimagine their bonds with home and family. They challenge the notion of distance, reminding us that even when physical separation feels insurmountable, alternative paths of connection exist. Like the balikbayan boxes sent with care across oceans, Miguel’s work reflects the idea that there’s always a way to return home, emotionally or spiritually. Miguel exemplifies how technology and art can empower you to craft your own reality, shaping worlds both vast and intimate with borderless creativity.
