“上海这个机械般疯狂运作着的不夜城在清晨四点沉睡了.凉风和月色相伴吞噬了这个蓝色的星球,就在这一片刻,万物停下了脚步.灰色笨重的高楼大厦也在这一时刻卸下了平日的端庄.一个孤独的生命在这蓝色和平的世界里发现了慰藉.”

Gabriel Munguia 清晰的捕捉了上海的感觉.他粗燥的勾画和图画的深层内涵见证了城市的不和谐.有时表层平滑的蓝色可以征服和抹去一些喧嚣.但是我们知道这个停顿只是片刻的.第二天早晨一切又将恢复往日的繁忙.他作品中黑色的勾勒是一大看点,他们总是如此丑陋.未完成的建筑物不仅仅使他们看上去饱满,并表现出了他们和传统中国绘画技术中的关系.另一大看点就是受到中国文化影响之后的人物肖像描写.人物肖像描写即使在繁华的都市中也是一个清晰的人性渴望的产物.看Munguia的上海,就是来理解城市的运作以及她的自我更新.

“Mechanical, maniacal Shanghai finally sleeps at 4 in the morning. The cool air and its companion the moon invades this spot of earth, and for a brief time all movement ceases. Grey hulks of buildings sag as they rest, and a lone individual finds solace in a world that has been enveloped in peaceful blue.”

Gabriel Munguia clearly captures the feel of Shanghai. His harsh brushstrokes and rough under-layers of paint seem witness to our city’s daily cacophony, whilst the soothingly smooth blue over layer has conquered and erased chaos. We know this pause will last only for a moment, for the next morning and its frenzy will soon be upon us. Black outlines of the main players in his works – often ugly, somehow unfinished buildings – not only make them seem contained, but also show linkage with traditional Chinese painting technique. Another Chinese influence is his portrayal of humas as secondary players, here, even in a city that is clearly a product of humanity’s desires. To see Munguai’s Shanghai is to finally understand how the city works and how it renews itself.