Genius Loci

Starting from sketches made during various trips, mental maps, and impressions of landscapes, Óscar Contreras Rojas sought, in his work Genius Loci, to reconstruct a scene, a landscape that could somehow contain them all. For some time, he has reflected on how we only partially perceive elements that often repeat themselves, like grass sprouting from the corners of pavements or animal shapes hidden in clouds. We've grown too accustomed to them and no longer notice. We travel far, driven by the desire to see something completely different. But often, what we're really searching for is an outer reflection of what we carry within. Through Genius Loci, Óscar Contreras Rojas invites us to see the familiar in a new light and reconnect with the hidden beauty around us.

Oscar Isaias Contreras Rojas was born in Toluca, Mexico. He currently lives and works between Florence and Venice. He holds a degree in Painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, Italy, and completed an MA Fine Arts exchange at Middlesex University, London, UK.

Óscar Contreras Rojas's artistic practice is built around the idea of making the unseen visible. Using materials like oil paint, wool, and thread, he carefully deconstructs images and then reassembles them into new forms. This process reflects his interest in capturing the spirit of a place, going beyond simple representation to express deeper sensations and memories. His colour palette—rooted in natural tones he's known since childhood—adds an intimate layer to his work, connecting his personal history with the landscapes he explores. Through this approach, Contreras Rojas invites viewers to experience a reality shaped as much by feeling and intuition as by sight.