Mario García Miró: A Life Dedicated to the Arts
Mario García Miró was born in Barcelona, the city where he currently resides
and has his studio.
Academic Background
Painting:
Mario’s passion for art drove him to seek a solid education to perfect his natural
talent. He enrolled in the prestigious University of Barcelona, earning a
Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. There, he studied drawing, painting, sculpture,
engraving, and graphic design, specializing in painting, with a particular focus
on realistic landscapes.
After completing his studies, Mario and several classmates traveled to France,
the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, and Russia to observe and study
masterpieces displayed in major museums.
Eager to deepen his studies in landscape painting, he joined the renowned Olot
Art School. At this institution, Mario had the privilege of meeting the brilliant
painter Elías Garralda Alzugaray, the foremost exponent of Olot landscape painting.
Mario was his disciple for two years.
Photography: Composition and Light as Tools of Creation
Photography is a vital part of Mario’s artistic career. For years, he has combined
his passion for painting with his love for this medium, establishing two studios
to explore different aspects of imagery: one for color photography and another
for black-and-white photography.
In his color studio, Mario experiments with vibrant tones and bold compositions,
while in his black-and-white studio, he delves into the interplay of light and
shadow, creating images rich in depth and meaning. This dual approach allows
him to develop a unique understanding of composition and atmosphere,
elements he masterfully incorporates into his paintings.
“For me, photography is an exercise in mindfulness, a way of seeing the world
with new eyes. Like painting, every detail matters, every shadow counts,”
Mario García Miró biography.
Painting: The Landscape
Mario’s constant practice, combined with plein air painting sessions, allowed
him to develop a deeper connection with the landscape. Capturing a scene full
of light and serenity on canvas was always a challenge. Some days he returned
to his studio disappointed by the results; other times, he was elated by his
success.
During these plein air sessions, he often took photographs to capture lighting
changes in his chosen frame.
Many of his paintings are created in his studio—a peaceful space where he can
fully immerse himself in the creative process. Here, he studies his photographic
references calmly and works on details without the pressures of changing
outdoor conditions.
His relationship with landscape painting has been a mix of love and
frustration, an emotional tug-of-war that has shaped his artistic journey. On
one hand, he deeply cherishes nature and the tranquility it provides. Painting
landscapes allows him to capture the fleeting beauty of dawn skies or the
stillness of a forest. The process gives him the chance to immortalize moments
and feelings, forming an emotional connection that drives him to keep painting.
On the other hand, there are moments of frustration—the struggle to achieve
the perfect atmosphere, texture, or color blend. Yet, his love for the process
and the satisfaction of seeing the final result keeps him persistent.
Exploration and Evolution: Fusion of Landscapes with Pop Art
After a long period of research and reflection on his art, Mario decided it was
time to pursue deeper evolution and a distinctive personal style.
While his love for landscape painting had grown over the years, he felt constrained by traditional techniques that didn’t fully capture his contemporary vision.
He sought to express his connection to nature while also creating something
relevant to the modern era—art that spoke not just of the natural world but
also of his interpretation of it. This led him to experiment with merging
landscapes and Pop Art.
Pop Art’s vibrant aesthetics, flat colors, and bold depictions of the everyday
offered a fresh perspective. He was drawn to its ability to transform the
mundane into something meaningful and saw its energy as a way to breathe
new life into landscape painting, which sometimes felt overly solemn or static.
Initially, balancing these two worlds was challenging. He incorporated defined
lines and repetitive patterns reminiscent of Pop Art while maintaining the
essence of nature. Over time, he discovered that this fusion didn’t just alter his
style; it created a unique way of seeing and expressing the landscape.
His work became a blend of nature’s serenity and the visual energy of Pop Art, allowing him to connect more personally and contemporarily with his surroundings.
Inclusion of Elements in Paintings:
In his stylistic evolution, Mario found a unique way to enrich his realistic
landscapes by blending them with Pop Art elements. This approach allowed him
to incorporate vibrant living elements and everyday objects, adding freshness,
dynamism, and unexpected symbolism to his compositions.
Notable among these elements are animals in serene or playful poses, plants
that invite a connection to nature, and fruits that, with their vibrant colors,
evoke the fleeting beauty of organic life.
Static objects:
far from being mere adornments become silent protagonists in each painting’s narrative. Tin toys, musical instruments, and everyday artifacts act as symbolic anchors, connecting viewers with moments of nostalgia, playfulness, or creativity. Each element is carefully chosen to interact with the landscape, adding layers of
meaning beyond the visual.
This fusion of the natural and cultural, the living and the inert, reflects his
desire to explore the connections between the ordinary and the extraordinary,
creating scenes where realism intertwines with imagination and symbolism.
Mario’s work also pays homage to great masters of painting, such as René
Magritte, Dalí, and Picasso. Their influences are evident in the symbolic details
and dreamlike compositions of his pieces.
Urban Landscapes:
In his constant artistic exploration, Mario expanded the visual richness of his
outdoor landscapes by incorporating the complexity and dynamism of urban
scenes, focusing on iconic cities like New York, San Francisco, and others.
Each piece becomes a window into the city’s heart, where countless details
come to life: the intricate perspectives of skyscrapers, the bustling streets, and
countless windows revealing fragments of human stories. These details capture
not only the cities’ physical appearances but also their essence, rhythm, and
unique personality.
New York’s iconic skyline and relentless energy challenge him to play with light,
shadows, and reflections. San Francisco, with its rolling hills, majestic bridges,
and distinctive architecture, offers a different creative palette.
The Golden Gate Bridge, featured in many of his works, serves as a boundless
source of inspiration. Its elegant, geometric silhouette contrasts with the
natural landscapes of San Francisco Bay, creating a fascinating interplay of
lines, light, and shadow.
Exhibiting at:
– X-Power Gallery, Shanghai, China
– Get Art Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
– Christopher Hill Gallery, California, USA
– Hamdorff Art Fair, Laren, Holland
– Silvia Snnacheribbo Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
