“Nature acts as both a mirror and the soul of the human condition; the lacerations inflicted upon it stare back at us, making us feel that its injuries are, at the same time, our own existential wounds“

– Maria Xose Ares

María Xosé Ares is a visual artist specializing in painting, based in Cangas (Pontevedra, Spain). With a background in Technical Architecture and Fine Arts, oil painting lies at the heart of her artistic practice. The malleability of oil paint and the use of additional materials—such as tissue paper— facilitate the creation of glazes, resulting in volatile, atmospheric color that engages in a silent dialogue with the legacy of Mark Rothko’s “Color Field” painting. In her most recent project, Feridas (Wounds), Ares explores the human condition through organic forms trees and fish—that serve as metaphors for the affliction of a sick world.

The artist describes this work as inspired by a sunrise viewed from her window, when she was struck by the extraordinary light illuminating the mountains and the Vigo estuary. She recalls how the power lines crossing her semi-rural street seemed to trace a delicate line through that vibrant landscape, creating a subtle visual interruption in the scene.

In this painting, she reflects on the tension between nature and human presence, and on how even the most beautiful views are shaped by the structures surrounding us. For her, the work becomes a meditation on light, memory, and the silent interaction between the natural and artificial worlds.

Her piece Al Amanecer will be displayed at ART WORLD MARBELLA 2026.