My name is Nino Damián Folch, and I’m a Neuroqueer Puerto Rican multidisciplinary creative. My artistic journey is deeply intertwined with my personal exploration of identity. Realizing my queerness at an early age, and identifying as nonbinary long before the term entered mainstream discourse, I’ve consistently navigated a world that often lacked the language to describe my experiences.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, a culture that profoundly values artistic expression, I was surrounded by creativity in its many forms – visual, sculptural, musical, and performing. This environment, coupled with the influence of my artistic siblings, cultivated a deep appreciation for diverse artistic mediums. My passion for the performing arts emerged early, with active participation in choir and theatre throughout my youth.
This foundation was strengthened by the opportunity to study acting under the guidance of renowned Puerto Rican actors Luz María Rondón and Herman O’Neill. Although my formal theatre studies at the University of Puerto Rico were brief, they provided valuable insights into the craft.
A lifelong obsession with film, music, and theatre fueled my creative exploration. This led me to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where I explored illustration, printmaking, and filmmaking, demonstrating my multifaceted artistic interests. Later, I explored experimental sound art with a group of like-minded friends and artists, creating exploratory and undefined sonic landscapes.
A significant turning point in my life came with my late-in-life diagnoses of ADHD and ASD. This paradigm shift provided a new understanding of my neurodiversity and led to my adoption of the term Neuroqueer—as proposed by Nick Walker in her book Neuroqueer Heresies—a powerful intersection of my neurological and gender identities. This self-awareness has profoundly influenced my artistic perspective, adding a unique and authentic layer to my creative work.
This diverse background, spanning performing arts, visual art, and sound design, informs my unique and adaptable approach to creative projects. My neurodiversity, queerness, and Puerto Rican heritage contribute to a distinct artistic perspective, allowing me to bring fresh and authentic interpretations to my work. I am eager to collaborate, learn, and contribute my varied experiences to the world of art, theatre, and film.