Leah McFadden – Portfolio Project

Preface

My name is Leah McFadden, and my work is titled “Pablo Amaringo Portfolio Project.” My project is licensed as a CC BY-NC.

Introduction

Pablo Amaringo is a visionary artist mainly known for his lively and energetic pieces. This Peruvian artist got his foot in the door by recreating his shamanic visions that he experienced after drinking the entheogenic plant brew Ayahuasca. The work of Pablo Amaringo allows his audience to dive into a spiritual adventure, experiencing colorful, bright images in order to understand the perplexing relationship between man and nature.

Themes

One significant theme presented in the works of Pablo Amaringo is the healing power of nature. Through his art, Amaringo expands upon the importance of nature as he allows his viewers to see the deeper meanings of the world in which we reside. The pieces he creates show that nature can develop an eye-opening trait that some people may not have, healing them from the ordinary perspective they currently maintain. In addition to the theme resolving around nature, another way in which this artist impacts his audience is through the theme of spiritual belonging. Amaringo’s pieces explore the depths of our understanding of the meaning of plants and the importance of creativity and imagination. He persuades the audience to open their minds and become conscious of the world around them by incorporating imaginative, out-of-the-box visions in his art pieces.

Analysis

“Amazonica Romantica” by Pablo Amaringo licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

As Amaringo’s work as an artist started to come to an end, he created this piece that took place in a setting he truly cherished—the Amazon rainforest. Here, we can see the romance in the air as the couple hold hands and walk through the beautiful forest scene, surrounded by a variety of plants, trees, and more. The man and woman face away as they walk towards the full moon. This symbolizes that they are walking towards their happy destination as they experience the undeniable reality of the selva. The theme expressed in this piece is how the power of nature can take people on a journey of creativity and imagination. The main colors expressed are green and blue, which represent the magic that nature can become if it is appreciated with an open mind. 

“Jehua Supai” by Pablo Amaringo licensed under CC BY-NC. 

This piece was created in 2004 by Amaringo incorporating the theme of spiritual belonging. It stresses the importance of the relationship between man and nature as it presents a young man who transforms himself into something greater and stronger than humanity. Surrounding him is an aguajal, which is a place in which aguaje palms grow. This expression of nature captures the beauty within an adjacent world. There are various colors shown in this art piece created by Amaringo, creating a fascination developed within the audience. Healing powers are also depicted in this work through the ominous faces above the man. These faces seemingly work together to build a strong environment in which the spirits may reside.  

“Transformacion del chaman en Aguila” by Pablo Amaringo licensed under CC BY-NC. 

The image created by Amaringo in 2002 represents a shaman’s journey as he becomes an eagle. It incorporates the theme of transformation as the shaman changes his life form into something of great use and knowledge. The eagle in this art piece serves as a symbol of power, with its wings allowing it to fly away and bring back wisdom to its community. Amaringo’s purpose in composing this piece is to show just how powerful people can become, and how they can use that power to build a more knowledgeable life. The blue colors surrounding the eagle make it stand out more and become the main focus for the audience. Other bright colors, such as pink, green, and orange are used to capture the endless possibilities that Amaringo wants his viewers to recognize. 

Application