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NEW HOPE

SOLO EXHIBITION

We can envision Augusto Vilella's intuitive painting process as a form of artistic meditation. Although he holds a paintbrush, there is no way to predict the imagery that will emerge on his canvas. His surreal dreamlike world only manifests when he is in a trance-like and calm state of creative flow. Once in this subconscious state, Vilella can connect his emotionally charged eyes with the characters he shapes, creating a resonance that brings them together. So, gazing at these characters—even for just a brief minute—can make one feel as if they are sincerely extending a small hand, inviting the viewer to join them in a profound exploration of philosophical beauty.

By deliberately removing his conscious awareness and thoughts from the painting process, he allows himself to create on the canvas with great ease. He is not what we would call a "symbol hunter," creating visual allegories by combining different images. The symbolic hunting prevalent in works by Rauschenberg and Rauch is often mocked and criticized. Instead, Vilella delves into the primordial soup of Jungian theory, discovering the accidental methods employed by Duchamp and Cage in their artistic practices. Chance has a way of setting aside our imperfect intentions and desires, allowing us to expand ourselves and explore possibilities that were previously unimaginable. A person with religious beliefs might say we open our hearts to God, while others may say we open our hearts to our own subconscious. This is also what Vilella believes in.

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