After his participation in the 2019 Cairo Biennale representing Colombia, exhibiting his works at the Museum of Modern Egyptian Art in Egypt, artist Camilo Arias's new collection of paintings “Psychedelic Roots”, is currently on show atZamalek Art gallery.

The colourful scenes depicted in these paintings show humans and nature merging into vibrant tropical colours, creating surreal landscapes that convey a message of self-discovery where Arias exalts his Latin American roots, different facets and stories of his country of origin.

“I am the product of aboriginal wisdom, the defiance of African slaves, and the impetuousness of European conquerors. I am a proud collection of these three civilisations’ cultures. Through my veins runs the heritage and history of powerful empires that I share in this collection,” he says. “A touch of everything that represents what being born in the country of Magical Realism entails and the mind of one of the main inspirations behind my artwork: the great Gabriel Garcia Marquez.”

Arias’s style is influenced by masters of the past: Van Gogh, Monet and Corot. But his soul is set on developing his own style. It took Arias more than two years to finish this collection of acrylic and oil paintings on canvas and wood as well as experimental materials such as Plexiglass, resin and various organic substances.


The exhibition is on until 9 November.



*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 October, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/354462.aspx