Mareo Rodriguez

ABSTRACT Artwork Black Circle Light Contemporay Artist Mareo Rodriguez Void III

2023

Mario Rodriguez Echeverry, known by his artistic alias "MAREO" and represented by Escat Gallery, was born in Mexico City in 1981 and spent his formative years in Colombia before settling in Barcelona. He holds a B.A. in Architecture from UPB Medellin (2004), a master's degree in Design from Elisava Barcelona (2006), and a master's degree in Arts from UNA Buenos Aires, Argentina (2013). Mareo's artistic journey has been marked by 16 solo exhibitions and participation in numerous international art fairs and projects spanning North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Key highlights include "Arte nel Bosco" Land art project in Italy (2016), Art Toronto (2017), "Viaggio" at Palazzo Ferrero in Italy (2018), L.A. Art Show (2018), "Carre Latin" at Palais Royal in Paris (2018), Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival in Emirates (2018, 2019), Artefiera Bologna (2019, 2020), ArtVerona (2021), Illumia NFT monolith event inaugurated by Deepak Chopra in Miami (2021), "Portals" solo exhibition at Valletta Contemporary, Malta (2021), and participation in the Istanbul Triennial with a site-specific installation (2022). In 2022, Mareo exhibited alongside Christo and Jeanne Claude at Hexton Gallery in Aspen and showcased an installation at the "Wavelength" exhibition in Times Art Museum, Beijing, China. In 2024, he created a monumental 60-meter-high light installation at the Inota Festival in Hungary and opened a solo exhibition at LOAD Digital Art Gallery in Barcelona. His work has been featured in various publications and books, including "Expansion" published by E3 contemporanea and Vanillaedizioni in 2018, "Matter is condensed light" (self-edited, 2020), and VC 03 featuring the "Portals" exhibition by Valletta Contemporary, Malta (2022). Mareo's pieces are housed in prestigious private collections and institutions worldwide, including Gerry Bonetti, Bruno Tropeano, Palazzo Ferrero in Italy, Margot & Dennis Knight in the USA, Hotel Atlantis II in Dubai, META Foundation in Malta, Sandstorm Gold Headquarters in Vancouver, and the Black Gold Museum in Saudi Arabia. My work is a tribute to the sublime forces of nature, shaping the natural world into a metaphysical space. This blend of landscape abstraction and spiritual exploration encapsulates the dichotomy between "Matter" in the physical plane and "Light" in the quest for the ethereal and sacred.​ The "Portals Series" represents the synthesis of this ongoing journey, exploring the symbolic significance of the wavy line—a motif ingrained in the natural world. These sinuous lines, whether found in mountains, rivers, or lightning, symbolize both separation and connection, serving as gateways to the unknown and the void. In my interpretation, these fissures transcend mere divisions; they become conduits for detachment and evolution, mirroring the human condition. Through artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture, installation, and digital media, I aim to convey the dual nature of these cracks, portraying them as symbols of both wounds and healing. The alchemical process of transformation unfolds within these portals, illuminating the internal shadows we carry and guiding us toward newfound light and consciousness.