There can be many ways in experiencing meaning; one of these ways is to allow the linear or logical mind to give way to the non-linear, intuitive, and non-verbal realm of Abstract Art. This can precipitate overwhelming experiences of timelessness, interconnectedness, and ecstatic states all depicted on canvas.
For “Reverie”, Carlo Magno intends to create environments that make space for what is unseen and invisible, seeking out alternate modes of sensory perception and states of being both the self and the observer. Often using specifically chosen and intentionally placed imbued objects such as doorways and windows, Magno creates visual installation habitats that carry the essence of nostalgia combined with trance. A milestone exhibit as he celebrates his 60th birthday, the artist aspires to awaken within the viewer a doorway to their own turning point in life, with a creative eye towards admittance and optimism.
The figurative imagery, colors, markings, and physical remnants of Magno’s art add up to a feeling, one that is mostly up to the audience. Through his unpredictable and open-minded process, Carlo Magno’s “Reverie” is about taking the complicated elements of a visual atmosphere and presenting a wider viewpoint, prompting for a deeper aesthetic response as a sense of peace in his paintings emerges.
Carlo Magno (b.1960) has produced a deep oeuvre of high-quality works that spans almost four decades of art production. In the trajectory of Magno’s practice, one can see the development of a complex artistic temperament that has experimented with a diverse multitude of media, styles, techniques, and forms. The artist’s rich career of more than 20 well-received solo shows held locally and abroad is both a testament to the restlessness of his character, and proof that the notion of evolutionary re-invention is the driving force of his practice.
Carlo Magno’s very latest works show a fusion of his earlier hyperrealist style with abstracted landscapes. This unique topography of hybrid works merely represent the latest in a career that will undoubtedly grow into what will eventually become one of the most storied visual art careers in modern Philippine art history.
“Reverie” by Carlo Magno will be on view at Art Lounge Manila at the Podium from January 21 – February 2, 2020 with the Artist Reception scheduled for Tuesday, January 21 at 6.30PM. Art Lounge Manila is located on the ground level of The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, contact Art Lounge Manila at artloungemanila@gmail.com, or at +63 9190821718 and +63 9778398971.
By Grace Ng