Local artist Mars Ibarreche is challenging perceptions of collage as an art form with their latest exhibition, “the ephemeral and the enduring,” currently on display at ILY2 in the Pearl District until August 9.
Ibarreche’s distinct approach to collage involves using packaging, pulp novels, and varied materials to create over 40 small-scale, text-focused pieces that offer a unique exploration of language and imagery.
The majority of the works are prominently displayed on the gallery walls, while four pieces are strategically placed for street visibility, and nearly a dozen are showcased in the gallery’s dark office and gift shop.
What sets this exhibition apart is its interactive nature, reminiscent of magnetic word strips typically seen on refrigerators, where Ibarreche presents a poetic visual language that can be reinterpreted and remixed by their audience and future galleries.
Drawing inspiration from a DIY punk zine ethos, Ibarreche’s collages celebrate a beautiful messiness rather than a sterile precision often associated with traditional art forms.
This perspective allows for innovation borne from destruction, as collage itself becomes an act of curation where the process of arrangement and choice is as vital as the cutting and pasting.
Rather than discarding overlooked materials as waste, Ibarreche repurposes them into compelling pieces that ignite literary curiosity among bibliophiles, challenging their notions of artistic value.
The collages span a horizontal line across the gallery, each piece modestly sized to resemble paperback novels of the supermarket variety.
However, it is their flatness and intricate backgrounds—composed of irregular scraps—that truly showcase Ibarreche’s craftsmanship.
While digital images may dull some of the apparent seams, viewing the work in person highlights the meticulous detail involved in each composition.
An aesthetic reminiscent of the East Coast emerges within the gallery, demonstrating that the typeface used in these collages carries as much weight as any visual imagery.
These pieces would effortlessly fit into the limited wall spaces of a small New York apartment, where their striking visual appeal would surely resonate.
One notable collage features art deco font on a vibrant red background, displaying the fragmented words “love” and “love me,” evoking nostalgic department store ads from a bygone era.
Another piece employs deep blue cut-out letters spelling “the sea” against a dingy off-white background, hinting at the remnants of a historical communiqué washed ashore.
Another collage’s red and cream-white color scheme, which nearly reads as “fire,” could be interpreted as a clever homage to works like Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.”
Throughout the exhibition, the word “heart” appears frequently in various forms, producing titles such as “A Radical Heart,” “A Roaming Heart,” and “A Hearts Heart.”
While these titles might not stem from traditional romance novels, their fonts and presentation evoke a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of tales from the 1970s.
Several pieces introduce implied queer coding with terms like “daddy” and “sexy energy,” infusing these otherwise universal words with contemporary vibrancy and youthful exuberance.
The success of Ibarreche’s show hinges on viewers’ individual tastes and their associations with the displayed words.
In one piece, the stark use of the word “rage” in simple black letters against an off-white canvas stands out as minimalistic yet powerful, likely appealing to devotees of minimalism.
On the other hand, a contrasting collage featuring energetic pink and black stripes, adorned with words like “strange,” “passion,” and “if you,” delights those who prefer more visually bustling artistry.
Yet, one of the most captivating pieces manages to merge various aesthetic preferences seamlessly.
A series of cream and sea blue-green blocks creates an enchanting visual reminiscent of a trophy or a natural form, suggesting organic life.
The words present are “by” and “fuck,” articulated with individually cut, deeper blue letters that convey a powerful sentiment—one that resonates across generations and cultural boundaries.
In exploring these themes, Ibarreche’s exhibition nudges the audience to reconsider the elements of collage and the artistic potential within seemingly ordinary materials.
image source from：wweek
