Barrancolí 2015

Editor: So, here we have Mariojosé Ángeles’ "Barrancolí," created in 2015 using acrylics. There's something intensely melancholic about it, isn’t there? The colors feel both vibrant and subdued at the same time. What's your interpretation? Curator: Melancholy is a great starting point. It’s like staring into a dream, isn’t it? The colors swim, the forms suggest a portrait, but one that’s dissolving. Ángeles pulls from Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Expressionism; a potent mix that speaks to the rawness of emotion. There is a dialogue happening with modernism and figuration. What do you see when you look at that intense green eye? Editor: The eye almost feels…alien. Out of place in something that also hints at a very human form. Does the title "Barrancolí" offer any clues, or is it intentionally ambiguous? Curator: Ooh, good question. Often, titles are a playful red herring, a little wink from the artist. Barrancolí… it’s evocative, perhaps suggesting a geographical location or even a bird, further fueling that alien gaze. It's like the painting is murmuring a secret. Don’t you find that modern art loves to play that game? It dares you to decode it. Editor: I see that. So it’s almost like Ángeles is creating a sense of disorientation through both form and title, forcing us to confront the ambiguity head-on. Curator: Precisely! It’s an exploration, and perhaps an embrace, of the unknown. Think of dreams—they’re so real while you’re in them, but trying to make concrete sense of them later can feel…well, rather like interpreting this painting, actually. A ghost of an image left floating in your mind. Editor: It's fascinating how much is packed into this one image. I see the rawness now, and the ambiguity is definitely compelling. Thanks for untangling that for me! Curator: My pleasure! Every piece of art is just waiting for a curious eye to unlock its potential. Keep looking, and it will whisper its secrets.