Urban Effect 2015

Rodrigo Franzao’s “Urban Effect” is a painting made from paper, acrylic and coloured pencil that pulls you in with its sharp angles and contrasting textures. Look at how the paper is layered, almost like city blocks stacked on top of each other. It feels like Franzao is building up an urban landscape, not just depicting one. There is thin paint and thick paper, rough outlines with smooth surfaces. Those black, almost scribbled lines, they're like pathways or maybe the raw edges of buildings under construction. They remind me of a slightly more playful take on some of Robert Smithson's non-sites, where he brought the grit of the landscape into the gallery. The colour palette has a vibrancy that gives the piece a feeling of forward momentum, almost pushing you to look closer and see the details. It’s the kind of painting that feels like an ongoing conversation, inviting you to bring your own experiences and interpretations to the table.