Marcel Antonio (b. 1965)

Lot description

The Balance of Gravity signed (lower left and verso) dated 1999 oil on canvas 36" x 24" (91 cm x 61 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot Delving into the existential themes of human existence, Marcel Antonio's The Balance of Gravity presents a contemplative masterpiece that merges figurative representation with surreal and metaphysical concerns to deliver its intended message. Fully packed with symbolism and imagery, the painting becomes a visual meditation on how individuals navigate the weight of existing and the feeling of seeking meaning beyond living. The central figure of the painting focuses first on a woman who is seemingly tired, and internally contemplating, as it was surrounded by interesting imagery that slowly builds the art piece's central theme: From the skull on the table, which is a representation of memento mori to evoke mortality, which contrasts with the potted plant, which implies life and growth, To fruits and food items that represented sensuality and the physical world, which were paralleled by hanging stars and celestial symbols that hinted at cosmic cycles and unseen forces beyond a human life's control. Antonio had established the idea of "balance" as referenced in the title—life and death, matter and spirit; the balances of existence, each pulling the woman between opposing forces like gravity. (Mark John Castañeda)