Miranda, 2024, washi tape, vinyl, spray paint
Bonilla was one of five artists in the Spring ’24 cohort of the Keyhole Workspace Residency at ECOCA. The studio theme was ‘climate’.
Opening Reception Sunday, June 23rd, 3-5pm
Miradero is a Spanish word that translates to watchtower or lookout point.
In Bonilla’s artwork the concept of degrowth is used to propose a downshifting from a boundless economic expansion and unsustainable consumption to a post-consumerist future addressing current environmental and social issues. Resource depletion decelerates to achieve ecological flourishing, social equity and quality of life. Furthermore, Bonilla’s personal notions about the metaphysical encompassing beliefs about God, existence, the Cosmos, a non-material realm transcending our observable physical domain and the afterlife provide an additional dimension to the discourse of degrowth and sustainability in his work. These seemingly disparate ideas intersect in profound ways. Alternative futures of human progress prompt reflection of humanity's longing for harmony, purpose, and interconnectedness. Prosperity beyond material accumulation conveyed through principles of simplicity, frugality and conviviality. By pointing to the concept of the afterlife his work considers the transcendence of our actions, a purposeful life, our relation to the Cosmos and our legacy after exiting this world. His work comtemplates ways of thinking about responsible stewardship of the environment, the importance of ethical conduct and towards materialistic world views. It is a call to transcend notions of progress based solely on material wealth and shift towards an existence fulfilled by cultivating a profound sense of fellowship, gratitude, and respect for life. Using his imagination and resilience in the face of systemic barriers and harsh realities, Bonilla finds solace in an enduring hope for a brighter tomorrow, whether in this life or beyond. Through his artwork Bonilla aims to spark conversations about possible futures.
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Ramón Bonilla has a BFA from Escuela de Artes Plásticas de San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has been featured on 5280’s Home magazine as one of the “The Five Local Artists To Watch And Collect”. His work has been commissioned for The Gates Building; Nexus BSP in Denver; Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, CO; The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation in Denver and through Muros, Chicago. His work is also part of the art collections of Le Meridien Hotel Denver and The Four Seasons Hotel and Resort Beverly Hills. He has been represented by Michael Warren Contemporary and Simon Breitbard Fine Arts in San Francisco. Currently he has representation through Space Gallery Denver. He has shown with Direction/Instruction, an international art group organized by Hyland Mather, and showed his work at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia. He has also shown his work at Understudy Denver and 516 Arts in Albuquerque, NM. Bonilla is an alumni of Redline Denver where he completed a two year residence and is a recipient of the Inside Fund which is funded by the Andy Warhol Foundation.