José Luis Serrano Original Painting Equilibrium of Matter Abstract 1978

Description

There are works that seem to hold a small universe within their forms, and "Equilibrio de la Materia" is one of them. Created by Mexican artist José Luis Serrano and signed and dated 1978, this mixed-media painting belongs to a particularly important moment within the artist's career, when his abstract language was at full maturity and shortly before the presentation of his innovative silicography technique.

The composition is built from geometric and organic forms that appear to maintain a delicate tension. At the top, a rectangular structure in ivory and grayish tones appears, slightly tilted, resting upon an irregular, stone-like form. Below, a horizontal band in ochre and terracotta tones establishes a second point of gravity. The different forms seem to float, lean on, and relate to one another without ever becoming a concrete figurative representation. The result is a silent, meditative, and deeply material composition.

José Luis Serrano and Mexican Abstraction

José Luis Serrano was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1947 and developed his artistic training at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado "La Esmeralda," a fundamental institution for several generations of Mexican artists. His career is distinguished by a permanent experimentation with materials and procedures, as well as a particular concern for expanding the possibilities of graphic and abstract work.

His career reached a particularly important point during the 1970s. In 1978, he held exhibitions at the Galería Juan Martín and the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City, and the following year he showed his work at The Mexican Museum in San Francisco. He later also exhibited in the United States and Canada.

Serrano's importance within Mexican abstraction has also been institutionally recognized. His work is part of the historical revision of Mexican non-figurative art presented by the Museo de Arte Moderno del INBAL in the exhibition *La aparición de lo invisible. Arte no figurativo en México, 1948-1978*, alongside fundamental figures of Mexican abstraction and modernity.

Technique

The piece corresponds to an original mixed-media work, apparently constructed with acrylic paint and sand, on a textile support mounted on a wooden stretcher frame.

As is the case with much of Serrano's abstract production, matter acquires fundamental importance. The surface presents a rich tactile texture, with granular areas that seem to incorporate sand or mineral material into the paint. During this period, Serrano worked with combinations of paint and sandy materials.

The choice of earthy, gray, ochre, and white materials produces a sober palette reminiscent of natural elements such as stone, earth, dust, and eroded surfaces. However, Serrano does not appear to be attempting to literally represent a landscape. Nature functions rather as a starting point for constructing an abstract vocabulary of forms, textures, weights, and spaces.

In this sense, "Equilibrio de la Materia" can be contemplated as a kind of interior landscape: a set of elements that seem to have been found, displaced, and rearranged until reaching a new relationship among themselves. The composition invites slow contemplation and can acquire different readings depending on the distance from which it is observed.

The visible date in the signature allows this piece to be situated in 1978, a particularly significant year in the artist's career. It is also a date that coincides with a period of intense exhibition activity and recognition for Serrano.

Materiality and Presence

One of the greatest attractions of this work is precisely its surface. Unlike a purely two-dimensional abstract painting, here texture forms an essential part of the visual experience. The granular areas produce tiny shadows and light variations that change depending on the lighting of the space.

Condition

The piece retains a very attractive visual presence, although it shows evident signs of age and wear typical of a work approximately five decades old. The images show cracking and fine fissures in various areas of the pictorial surface, especially at the edge of the stretcher on the back side.

The aluminum frame is original, very common for the period, and shows wear and signs of use consistent with its age.

Collecting

"Equilibrio de la Materia" is particularly attractive for collectors interested in 20th-century Mexican abstraction, material experimentation, and the work of artists who contributed to expanding the limits of painting and graphic art in Mexico. Its 1978 date, generous scale, original character, and the importance of that period within Serrano's career make this piece a particularly interesting addition to a collection of modern Mexican art.

Technical Sheet

Artist: José Luis Serrano
Title: “Equilibrio de la Materia”
Year: 1978
Technique: Mixed media of acrylic and sands on canvas
Support: Canvas on stretcher
Work dimensions: 33-1/2 x 29-1/2"
Frame size: 37 x 33 x 1-1/2"
Type of work: Original
Style: Mexican abstraction / abstract art
Signed: Signed and dated "Serrano 78" in the lower right corner
Condition: Presents cracking, fissures, and signs of aging on the frame with wear from age and use.