Ariel Vargassal: Narratives

Ariel Vargassal: Narratives Ariel Vargassal paints whimsical explorations of societal issues, influenced by the rich history of mural art from his Mexican heritage, as well as the spiritual concept of totems.

Filled with symbolic human-animal interactions, each piece elicits curiosity and offers a glimpse into the artist's personal journey. Vargassal paints in a hyperreal, minimalistic style, Ariel Vargassal in his studio

eliminating backgrounds and focusing on the elements that

Cover: Hear No Evil Acrylic on Canvas 48 Ă— 60 in.

he considers essential to his story. Learn more about the narrative behind each piece at our gallery.

Ag

L

ife

ag

magnifi

our inne for the hard to

Against the Drift Acrylic on Canvas 60 Ă— 48 in.

ainst the Drift

e is a constant challenge, and many times a walk

gainst the wind. The strength to make us stand is a cent force walking next to us. The lion represents

er strength and the birthday cake is a metaphor challenges thrown at us every year, sometimes deal with, but also a sweet experience to gain.

Leaving the Pa

S

ometimes we walk in circles before we move and when it happens, the joy and force to

our path are unstoppable. During the process o

somewhere, we get stronger by the numbers

minded beings, the companions who share t traits, our 'tribe,' symbolized by the zebra a

finches. We leave the toxic behind us to keep towards the future.

ast

e forward, continue

of getting

s of like-

the same nd zebra

p moving

Leaving the Past Acrylic on Canvas 60 Ă— 60 in. round

The Intention Acrylic on Canvas 60 × 48 in.

The Intention

T

he

balloons

represent

a

sense

of

happiness in the walk of life, and you

may encounter something or someone who may have the power to pop that happiness away. The whimsical movement between the woman and the porcupine gives you a sense of some interaction. The porcupine hasn’t done it – its eyes say it could, but will it?

Hear No Evil

A

twist

on

the

classic

“three

wise

monkeys.� In this version, there is one

monkey who is persuaded to be unaware of his surroundings. The dark glasses and the donut represent the other two parts missing in the proverbial principle, while playing with the composition to create a universal message: decide for yourself what not to hear or see.

Hear No Evil Acrylic on Canvas 48 × 60 in.

Heartache Acrylic on Canvas 48 × 36 in.

Heartache

W

e view people on a surface level, acknowledging things

like beauty or a cheerful demeanor (represented by the origami). But often we fail to see that the same people are hurting, and are walking with a pain in their hearts that is almost impossible to see – the tarantula represents that.

Voyage of the B

T

his piece is a metaphor for survival and fo

withstand great pressure. During the journey

moments that feel like we carry a heavy weight as We endure the hardships of life, as species around

as well and need our help to be carried out to a bet

ticking—the ice cream will melt. The journey is lon you have to be brave.

Brave

or the capacity to

y of life, there are we move forward. the world struggle

tter place. Time is

ng, and to survive,

Voyage of the Brave Acrylic on Canvas 60 Ă— 60 in. round

Into Thin Air Acrylic on Canvas 60 × 72 in.

Into Thin Air

W

hen we pursue anything in life, there is always a risk of failing. But we

have to keep ourselves from falling and grasp on anything to stay afloat. Since I don’t use backgrounds in my work, I added the balloons and creatures to provide the viewer with the sensation of being on the air. In honor of those who take risks!

The Dreamer

I

n this painting, the human has a box full of origami animals, all of them on

brink of extinction. This is a metaphor for protecting animals and dreaming of a better planet for all. The real flesh elephant is holding a paper doll chain, showing how animals are being objectified and treated as just disposable pieces of paper.

The Dreamer Acrylic on Canvas 48 × 60 in.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N P L E A S E C O N TAC T T H E G A L L E RY

Renaissance Fine Arts | Baltimore, MD | 410.484.8900 Merritt Gallery | Chevy Chase, MD | 301.564.4447 Merritt Gallery | Haverford, PA | 610.645.9945