In vibrant canvases characterized by bright colors and raw textures, Mexican artist Marcela Cadena explores the depths of the human emotive experience, beginning with her own. For her, the process of creation is a reflection of her soul, where she paints what she feels, bypassing words and recognizable images for the pure expressionism conveyed by abstract forms.
Inspired by the vibrant hues that are a hallmark of the cultural tapestry of her native Mexico, Cadena grounds her emotive expressions with an infusion of texture, which she achieves through the layering of paint and other mediums. Free from any constrictions of traditional forms, the interplay of color and texture dance across the canvas, speaking of the universal pulse and energy that lie at the heart of the psyche.
When she goes to paint, Cadena sheds any preconceptions and techniques, and rather simply strives to reflect what she is feeling and experiencing in that moment in time. As she explains, “I express my feelings, my dreams, my illusions and my thoughts through my paintings. My art is abstract because the feelings do not have forms or boundaries. There is nothing more challenging than an empty canvas, to fill it with colors with my spatula.” What results are riveting pieces, emancipated from the trappings of the conventional art world and thus free to reveal unspoken truths from the most private corners of our inner world.
Marcela Cadena currently lives and works in Mexico City.