​​STATEMENT

 

 

My work is a tribute to the sublime forces of nature, shaping the natural world into a metaphysical space. This blend of landscape abstraction and spiritual exploration encapsulates the dichotomy between "Matter" in the physical plane and "Light" in the quest for the ethereal and sacred.​

 

The "Portals Series" represents the synthesis of this ongoing journey, exploring the symbolic significance of the wavy line—a motif ingrained in the natural world. These sinuous lines, whether found in mountains, rivers, or lightning, symbolize both separation and connection, serving as gateways to the unknown and the void. In my interpretation, these fissures transcend mere divisions; they become conduits for detachment and  evolution, mirroring the human condition.

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Through artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture, installation, and digital media, I aim to convey the dual nature of these cracks, portraying them as symbols of both wounds and healing. The alchemical process of transformation unfolds within these portals, illuminating the internal shadows we carry and guiding us toward newfound light and consciousness.

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Through my art, I invite viewers to engage in a profound exploration of the natural world and the deeper mysteries of existence, where division and unity intertwine, and wounds become pathways to healing and evolution.

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BIOGRAPHY

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MAREO (Mario Rodríguez Echeverry, b. 1981) is a multidisciplinary artist born in Mexico City and raised in Colombia, currently based in Barcelona. His practice encompasses painting, sculpture, digital media, and large-scale installations, often exploring the intersection of nature, light, and spiritual transformation.

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He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín (2004), a Master’s degree in Design from Elisava Barcelona (2006), and a Master’s degree in Arts from the National University of the Arts (UNA), Buenos Aires (2013).

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Over the past decade, Mareo has presented 16 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous international fairs, festivals, and art projects across North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Notable projects include the land art project Arte nel Bosco in Italy (2016), Viaggio at Palazzo Ferrero (2018), Carre Latin at Palais Royal in Paris (2018), the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival (2018, 2019), the NFT event Illumia inaugurated by Deepak Chopra in Miami (2021), and Portals, a solo show featuring four installations at Valletta Contemporary, Malta (2021). In 2022, he presented a site-specific installation for the Istanbul Triennial in a historic fortress and joined a group exhibition at Hexton Gallery (Aspen) alongside works by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. That same year, he also exhibited a large-scale installation at the Times Art Museum in Beijing.

In 2024, Mareo created a monumental 60-meter-high light installation at a former power plant for the Inota Festival in Hungary and inaugurated a solo exhibition at LOAD Digital Art Gallery in Barcelona. In 2025, he was awarded the ROOM Diseño Award in the Art Category at Matadero Madrid.

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His work has been featured in various publications, including Expansion (E3 Contemporanea / Vanillaedizioni, 2018), Matter is Condensed Light (self-published, 2020), and VC 03, a book dedicated to Portals published by Valletta Contemporary (2022).

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Mareo’s works are held in private and institutional collections worldwide, including those of Gerry Bonetti, Bruno Tropeano, Palazzo Ferrero (Italy), Margot & Dennis Knight (USA), Hotel Atlantis II (Dubai), META Foundation (Malta), Sandstorm Gold HQ (Vancouver), and the Black Gold Museum (Saudi Arabia).

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