Ancient cultures regarded caves as places where transcendental experiences occurred: they were the first sanctuaries; they were gateways to the underworld, to the interior of the Earth itself. In the beginning there was chaos and wilderness, where the earliest humans took to the caves for survival, regarding them as sacred shelters. The epitome of this cave-shelter symbol is that of the womb of the Mother Earth, a place of solace—a common motif across times and cultures.
When I re-approach my works as a viewer, I imagine the images as framed and displayed in a certain space such as a gallery or a museum, since I don’t know how I feel about a painting until it is hung on the wall. Hence, one of my favorite parts of exhibitions is when people tell me how they feel about and what they see in my works, and then I become a viewer of viewers.
Light, Embodied, a solo exhibition by contemporary abstract artist Paz Viola (Uruguay, b. 1985), opens on June 10, 2023 at CAN Art Center, in the contemporary art hub that is the 798 District in Beijing. The works featured in the show are inspired by the artist’s musings about light, seen as cosmic energy and a constant source of fascination. Through his visual expressions, viewers are drawn into Paz Viola’s world of mystical oneness to explore its every hidden nook and cranny, where light and d
Mauricio, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Many life situations inspire me – artists are a little different in the sense that we see differently. I was born in a small town on the shore of La Plata River with the most gorgeous sunsets in the world, carnival, Murgas, candombe, bohemian life, good wine and beautiful women, contemporary artist in New York