Ron Mariñas
April 29 — May 13, 2023
METRO Gallery
214 B Ortega St., Addition Hills, 1500 San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
Ron Mariñas’ paintings are an ode to the grandeur and gravitas of human existence. Mixing the modern and the ancient, different eras of opulence converge in his works: from 16th Century Italian Renaissance to 20th Century classic fashion. His Baroque architectural backgrounds reference the ceiling frescoes that cover Italian chapels, such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and Bernardino Luini’s San Maurizio. Simultaneously, the sartorial form of his figures resonates with old-money signifiers, such as Chanel and Ralph Lauren.
This echo of elegance through time calls to mind a certain world – that of the beautiful and the glamorous. Yet, the series also shows how even these beauties are not immune from the fragility that accompanies the human condition. Subtle symbols, such as crumpled love letters and faded kiss marks, reveal the pain of love lost. Mariñas shows us that even the most exquisite of appearances houses all-too-human pain.
Rendered in oil on canvas, Mariñas’ techniques are themselves odes to the Renaissance as well. Dramatic chiaroscuro defines his figures, and each painting is grounded in golden, warm tones and subtle but sharp line work. Each painting expresses a different complexity of human need, whether it is the need for a community of support, or the need to break free of consuming emotions. More than hopeful, the works are above all, a paean to the process of healing.
– JC Barcelon
About the Artists
