MANLY DAILY - November 17, 2000
Daily Newspaper, Sydney Australia

READY TO TAKE ON HONG KONG

It was about five years ago when The Manly Daily lasted reported on Peruvian artist Ernesto Arrisueno.

In that time the Manly Vale resident has been busy working on group and solo exhibitions, which, among other places, have appeared at Paddington's Wagner Gallery.

Now, Ernesto is planning his first solo international exhibition in Hong Kong with 31 pieces going on display.

He said work to be shown at the Hong Kong exhibition could be divided into three basic themes: seascapes, interiors and magic realism.

It is the theme of magic realism he is most enamoured with.

"I often paint things with a surrealist twist," he said. "Things from the everyday but with a surprise."

Ernesto said he tried to find the magic in life and that his paintings were not "just copies" of things he saw.

He studied at art school before receiving a scholarship to study architecture at university.

"Architecture is about working with geometric shapes, balancing things," Ernesto said. "I think it helps to have that in my painting. But it's not something I think about, it just happens."

He has been "living from art" for the past eight years- since arriving in Australia from Peru.

"A lot of the subject matter for my work comes from my memories of my homeland," Ernesto said.

Strong blues are present in his water scenes and he puts that down to a difference in the colour of the sea of his two homes.

"In Peru, the colour of the sea is a kind of grey," he said. "Like London weather. I was amazed by the blues and greens of the ocean here."

Ernesto said he liked the colours and the light in Australia.

"I have the green golf course near my house and it's very relaxing," he said.

He also possesses an eclectic taste in music.

A private showing of some of his works for the exhibition was held last weekend.

The Hong Kong exhibition will be held on November 29.