BARTOS SARO, Mirage Ii S01, 2020

Bartos Saro - MIRAGE - Haute Pâte (Matter Painting)

In his expressive paintings, Bartos Saro focuses on paint as physical matter and the material properties of this medium. As an abstract artist, Saro explores how the physical structure of a painting, or unique rhythmic forms, can give emotional meaning to abstraction. In his career, Saro, using Haute Pâte (Matter Painting), studies the formal problems of painting. His painting goes through numerous stylistic changes in successive series of works. The artist most often refers to gesture painting and process painting.

In the MIRAGE series, the artist creates sensually colored sculptural landscapes with large accumulations of paint. In the process of "building a painting," the artist has combined the gesture of applying paint with its unique matter. He creates paintings of strong physicality with a sculptural, three-dimensional presence. The layers of paint are expressive, with a distinct structure. The base of the painting matter is sifted sand. In his work, he experiments with mixing acrylic paints, achieving an intense color or matte finish. He draws inspiration from views of nature and and music.

His work has evolved. From simple landscapes to more abstract, rhythmic depictions of fields, meadows, hills and the sea. From works of flowing drawing to MIRAGE, in which horizontal lines and vertical axes of the composition are clearly emphasized. The landscape aspect of his work became schematic, transforming into abstract symbols placed in specific parts of the composition.

Haute Pâte (Matter Painting) is a technique that involves the use of thick impasto paint to which materials such as ground glass, mud, sand, feathers, cement and shells are added. The additions are arbitrary and affect the style and character of the work. Bartos Saro is limited to acrylic paint mixed with binder and sifted sand. As a result, the layers of textures created in the painting are very intense yet fanciful.

On the surface of the canvas, there are rhythms of colorful gestures blended into the structure of the work. Each stain that has been spilled, drawn or smeared across the canvas is a unique mark. The applied paint is a record of physical activity. The expressive and expansive matter is unique in form. The painting refers to music, to the sounds of nature. It becomes melodic, multi-sensual. It invites you to touch and feel the texture created. The combination of the formal aspects of the Haute Pâtetechnique and the reference to music and the melodiousness of the landscape is a timeless value and distinguishing feature of the works of the MIRAGE series.

The artist consciously gives this series of abstract landscapes an oniric character, the nature of a dream, a vagueness. This is a series of works suspended in imagination, in irrationality contradictory to experience. Allowing to refer to an unreal reality.

Saro also uses solutions and techniques to manipulate perception: reflections, reflections, shadows, flashes - all of which are meant to make the image unreal. Fluorescent paints will glow in the dark, metallic elements will reflect even the smallest ray of light. The image will be alive, it will change. It will be as dynamic as changing landscapes are - dependent on light, weather, time of day.