Transcendence

Central American figurative artist, Carlos Barrios, explores moving his family from the Southern Highlands of NSW to Queensland in Transcendence at Mitchell Fine Art.

Barrios originally hails from El Salvador and has made Australia his home for over 20 years now, working closely with revered local artist, John Olsen for the last several years. Olsen is a big fan and has taken him under his wing to mentor him – high praise indeed for the artist whose subject matter includes the human form, nature and spirits.

As a child in El Salvador, he was exposed to ancient traditions and culture by his archaeologist father, and Barrios’s figurative imagery draws heavily from these early influences. His striking paintings are reminiscent of early South American iconography of the ancient Lenca, Olmec and Mayan civilisations.

The catalyst for Transcendence is the imminent relocation to our fair state, with the exhibition exploring the conflicting emotions and relationships within families, as well as the trepidation but optimism for such a huge move. The works are an explosion of colour, passion and excitement.

Need to Know: Transcendence opens Friday, 21 October, at 6pm with Carlos Barrios attending. Barrios will also conduct an Artist Talk discussing his inspiration and practice on Saturday, 22 October, from 11am. This is a free event.

View the exhibition HERE

By Vicki Englund

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