“Airs of Freedom” Rosana Auqué – Exhibition

Exhibition

December 16 -21, 2024 

OPENING Dec. 16 | 6PM

“Airs of Freedom” is the first major solo show presented at the Instituto Italiano di Cultura di New York of renowned Italian Colombian artist Rosana Auqué. The exhibition showcases her latest body of work, featuring over 30 artworks for the first time, all of which symbolize the cycle of renewal and transformation and their intricate relationship with poetry.

 

Auqué’s artistic vision is deeply inspired by the ephemeral. In this series, she captures a moment of pure transition where balloons, upon bursting, transform into flowers and landscapes. This act of explosion, often perceived as an ending, becomes a moment of rebirth—a metaphor for the continuous flow of life. Her work invites viewers to see the ephemeral not as a loss, but as an opportunity for new possibilities.

 

Known as “the balloon artist,” Auqué conveys the notion that for something new to emerge, something else must give way. The balloon symbolizes both freedom and fragility; when it bursts, it does not simply vanish. Instead, it metamorphoses into profound landscapes of infinite potential, constituting the legacy of the balloon. Here, death is not the end but the beginning of a new life—our essence in full bloom.

 

Through her work, Auqué engages the viewer in a deeper inquiry into the nature of the world around us and our relationship to it, prompting reflection on the continuous interplay of creation and dissolution that shapes our existence. Drawing upon poetry, the artist resonates with María Mercedes Carranza’s exploration of the ephemeral and transformation through experience. In Carranza’s verses, the transient nature of life is often depicted through vivid imagery and emotional depth, revealing the beauty in moments of vulnerability and transformation.

 

Auqué’s art embodies this poetic spirit, transforming the visual experience into a sensory journey akin to reading a poem. Each painting becomes a stanza, articulating a dialogue between existence and impermanence. Just as poetry captures the fleeting essence of emotions and experiences, Auqué’s oeuvre echoes the delicate balance between joy and sorrow, growth and decay. Her work invites viewers to engage in a reflective exploration of their own experiences of loss and renewal, prompting a deeper awareness of the ever-unfolding narrative of life.

 

Susana Vargas-Mejía, Curator

 

 

Rosana Auqué is an Italian Colombian artist whose cosmopolitan outlook is shaped by her education and experiences across Colombia, the UK, and Italy. For the past eight years, she has lived and created in Milan, and she recently relocated to Manhattan, where she has quickly established herself as a promising young artist with a vibrant studio in the city.

 

Rosana’s artistic journey began at the age of eleven when she discovered her passion for painting. This lifelong dedication has culminated in a body of work deeply influenced by her fascination with nature and balloons—symbols that have come to define her artistic identity. At the center of her work lies a profound desire to express joy, often infused with a touch of nostalgia and melancholy that only an honest expression of an artist can bring. Her art is characterized by bold chromatic expressions and a continuous exploration of the balance between nuance and form.

 

Colombia and Italy serve as the two poles of inspiration in Rosana’s work. Colombia, her homeland, provides a source of vibrant colors, warmth, and freedom, while Italy, with its rich artistic heritage, sharpens her conceptual approach and adds depth to her creative process.

 

Influenced by iconic artists such as Claude Monet—particularly his series of Water Lilies—and Gustav Klimt, whose decorative and textured style resonates with her, Rosana draws inspiration from a diverse array of sources, including melodies, landscapes, dreams, and simple concepts, transforming them into compelling oil paintings.

 

While she is devoted to painting, Rosana remains open to exploring other mediums. When asked about her future aspirations, she envisions filling the skies of Manhattan with her signature balloons, continuing to expand her artistic horizons.

Register for Rosana Auqué’s art exhibition at the following link: I want to register.