MANLY DAILY - April 6, 2001
Daily Newspaper, Sydney Australia

REALISM- WITH TOUCH OF MAGIC

Peninsula artist Ernesto Arrisueno takes scenes from nature and combines them with human elements.

Arrisueno, who comes from Peru and has been in Australia for more than 12 years, concentrates on the levels of light his paintings contain to give them appeal.

"I can't say I am only influenced by nature, " he said. "I quite often mix, say, landscapes, with things that represent human civilization or human history. I also paint figures."

His latest exhibition at the Wagner Gallery in Paddington is called "The Magic of Realism". Arrisueno described this "magic realism" as something that people in a busy world more or less needed.

"Of course, it depends on the personality, but I hope my paintings can touch people and take them somewhere- that is what I would like to think happens," Arrisueno said. But his work could be given a broader brushstroke by saying it is an exploration of surrealism and realism.

Gallery managing director Nadine Wagner said Arrisueno's work was steeped in symbolism. "Boats are one of his favourite subjects, floating peacefully on reflected still waters or beached idly on shorelines," she said.

"He sees them as a character like himself- a traveler searching for inspiration. It is the magic of real life."

Arrisueno said he was open to the winds of change in his work, so long as it took a positive direction and there was improvement.

Hong Kong played host to the painter's most recent exhibition. He exported a successful show.

The Wagner Gallery is at 39 Gurner St, Paddington.