Art Verité Gallery

For much of her body of work, Arnica Acantilado has sought the symbolic power of the natural world to speak about human life and experience. After all, we are deeply connected to the environment, despite the alienation brought about by our cities and modern-day conveniences. There remains something in each of us that is wild, primeval, and untamed, which we can recognize in the ferocity of the wildlife and the hierarchies of nature.

For her solo exhibition, Affect-Effect, at Art Verité Acantilado, features paintings that explore the theme of human impact on the environment. The works on display portray the devastating effects of our actions on the natural world, with some pieces showing how wildlife has disappeared, and only potted plants remain. The exhibition highlights the urgency of the climate crisis and how it affects the planet’s life and everything within it.

The artist’s compositional approach speaks of chaos, destruction, and indeterminacy. In a suite of works, the artist portrays a child—wearing a red jacket and cartoon character hat—as the protagonist facing a world that has burned, symbolizing the consequences of our actions. The posture of the child suggests defiance, urging the viewer to confront the realities of the climate crisis. While most of us may no longer live to see the devastations of a heated planet, the next generations definitely will.

Acantilado’s paintings join a long tradition of artists who have expressed their views on environmental degradation. Artists have been using their creative expression to raise awareness and inspire action to protect the planet. While Acantilado’s approach is symbolic and metaphorical, the urgency of her message is strong, immediate, and palpable.

Affect-Effect reminds us that it is the younger generation who will bear the brunt of the damage to the environment. The show emphasizes the importance of taking collective action to protect the planet and invites us all to take responsibility for the effects of our actions. In these paintings, Acantilado challenges us to think about how we can be part of the solution and encourages us to take action to help protect the environment.

Written by Carlomar Arcangel Daoana