Espejo Púrpura 

Manuel Rivera’s ‘Espejo Púrpura’ features a metallic grid against a muted purple backdrop, prompting a sense of confinement and obscured reflection. The grid, a symbol of structure and order, here seems to imprison the light it is supposed to reflect, echoing the bars of a cage. Consider how, throughout history, grids appear in various forms, from city planning to religious iconography, often representing control and imposed order. Yet, in Rivera’s hands, it morphs, evoking a sense of entrapment. This motif resonates with ancient depictions of the labyrinth, a complex structure designed to confuse and contain, tapping into our collective memory of spatial and psychological confinement. The tension between order and chaos, freedom and restriction, evokes a powerful emotional response. This 'mirror' reflects not the external world, but our internal struggles with control, inviting introspection and sparking a dialogue with the self. The non-linear evolution of symbols like these reveal their ability to resurface and evolve across time.