By Javar Juarez (CUBNSC) Columbia, S.C. - The Mike Brown Contemporary Art Gallery was abuzz with energy on December 5, 2024, as Marcelo Novo's latest exhibition, interPLAY, opened to an eager audience. Known for his bold surrealist approach and innovative techniques, Novo offers a deeply introspective yet universally resonant body of work. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Novo’s artistic journey is rooted in the surrealist principles of Freud and André Breton, exploring the subconscious through "pure psychic automatism." This method dissolves the constraints of reason, morality, and aesthetic conventions, allowing creativity to flow unhindered.
A Journey Through the Subconscious Marcelo Novo
Novo’s creative process is nothing short of remarkable. Each piece begins with a single mark on the canvas and evolves organically in one uninterrupted session. These sessions, which can last up to eight hours, demand complete emotional and physical commitment. Novo describes his work as an outpouring of the subconscious—a slot machine of accumulated experiences, emotions, and imagery.
“It’s all in there,” Novo explains, “everything I’ve seen, done, or felt. When I paint, it’s like activating a slot machine—you never know what combination will come out, but it always feels like it belongs.”
Novo’s dedication to capturing the immediacy of his subconscious requires careful preparation. He meticulously selects materials that facilitate rapid execution, favoring acrylic paints for their quick-drying properties. This ensures the uninterrupted flow of thought to form, creating what Novo calls “the most faithful translation of the moment.”
The Dance Between Chaos and Cohesion
Despite the spontaneous and chaotic nature of his process, Novo’s work achieves a striking cohesion. The imagery, while dreamlike and abstract, carries a sense of familiarity, inviting viewers to bring their own experiences and interpretations.
“I don’t have a specific message,” Novo admits. “I want people to look at my work and complete it with their own stories and emotions. It’s a collaboration between the painting and the viewer.”
This openness is part of Novo’s genius. His paintings are rich in detail, yet they leave room for interpretation, creating a dialogue between artist and audience. A recurring motif in his work is the interplay of balance and motion, as seen in figures that simultaneously appear grounded and weightless—a reflection of the dualities in human experience.
Art Without Boundaries
Novo credits his unique style to an early embrace of surrealist exercises, which he began as a student under the tutelage of Roberto Aizenberg, a prominent Argentine artist. Initially, he struggled to find coherence in his work. Over time, however, recurring shapes and themes emerged, forming the foundation of his signature style.
“I had to commit,” Novo recalls. “I gave up structured, figurative art to explore the unknown. It was scary, but it allowed me to create freely.”
This freedom is evident in interPLAY. The exhibition is a vibrant tapestry of color, texture, and form, blending abstract shapes with human and animal figures that evoke both whimsy and mystery. One painting features a three-legged figure that appears to float mid-motion, while another depicts an enigmatic couple seemingly suspended in a spiral of energy.
The Artist as Medium
Novo describes his painting process as a near-transcendent experience, likening it to a state of heightened awareness rather than a trance. He works quickly and intuitively, driven by an almost spiritual connection to his craft.
“Sometimes it feels like something else is guiding me,” he says. “If I close my eyes, the brush still finds its way.”
This poetic description underscores the depth of Novo’s relationship with his art. For him, painting is not merely a creative act but a profound exploration of the self.
An Invitation to Dream
As the exhibition title suggests, interPLAY is a celebration of interaction—between artist and medium, conscious and subconscious, viewer and artwork. It’s an invitation to step into Novo’s world, a place where the boundaries of time, space, and reality blur.
For Marcelo Novo, art is both deeply personal and universally accessible. His paintings, born of chaos and intuition, resonate with anyone willing to engage with them. As viewers navigate the labyrinth of Novo’s imagination, they may find themselves not only understanding his vision but also discovering new facets of their own.
1221 Lincoln Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
US
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