Ontiveros uses wood, metal, electronic or fabricated objects to create his kinetic and often viewer- participatory work. Some of his art includes a performance by the artist or a surrogate. He structures a viewer's experience of his work through his aesthetic and artistic choices, allowing him or her to more easily navigate such sweeping aspects of the human condition. I like to simplify the communication between art objects and the viewer's experience of it. Cooper breast plate, wood, plastic, electric blowers, and electronics.
Viewer presses button on panel to initiate plastic bag contraction on performer's head.
Sets up a situation where the viewer must determine by prompt blinking of lights on panel the proper sequence of button pressing. Once solved, the viewer eleveates the supposed crisis and plastic bag re-inflates on performer's head. But at the same time, Ontiveros hopes that a viewer approaching his work will at first wonder what it is. While I want you to recognize familiar shapes, forms or ideas, I don't want you to recognize it immediately. And that's where viewer participation kicks in.