“To Stay a Little Longer”

In her fourth exhibition at El Zapote gallery, Amelia Opalinska presents a series of 21 paintings documenting her journey through the Sierra Tarahumara in Chihuahua. More than a visual chronicle of geography, this body of work captures the moment when external observation transforms into an internal sensation. The artist translates to the canvas the experience of light, the shifts in color intensity brought about by the environment’s humidity, and the measured pace that the landscape demands to be truly understood.

By consciously quieting self-critical thoughts and academic constraints, Amelia Opalinska allows her creative process to be driven entirely by intuition and gestural freedom. This approach is evident in the use of curved lines and broken paths that evoke the winding roads and the train’s passage through the mountains. Through blocks of color and spontaneous brushstrokes, the work suggests landscape elements such as trees, animals, bodies of water, and the movement of traditional Rarámuri textiles, without being tethered to realistic scale or form.

In this series, attention becomes the central subject through a deliberate move away from literal or documentary representation. While observing the landscape, the artist resisted the urge to capture or possess the moment photographically, instead allowing sensory perception to guide her hand. The result is a visual language in which meadows are no longer mere collections of objects, but rather zones of silence and mental rest.

For further details and the complete artist profile, please visit the LINK in the bio