Mariana Sissia: Exploring the Inner Landscape Through Graphite Drawings
Mariana Sissia, born in Ramallo, Argentina, in 1980, resides in Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires and continues her artistic practice under Estudio Charlone 960. From an early age, she demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for drawing—not merely as a technical skill but as a profound means of introspection and spiritual exploration. This conviction would become the guiding principle of her artistic journey, shaping her distinctive aesthetic and informing her unwavering commitment to capturing inner experience through graphite drawings.
Her formative years were marked by academic pursuits at Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), where she earned her bachelor’s degree in painting between 1998 and 2003. During this period, she honed her artistic technique while simultaneously engaging with philosophical discussions concerning art's role in shaping consciousness—influences that would resonate throughout her subsequent creative endeavors. Notably, she participated in a studio critique led by Ernesto Ballesteros and the Artist Program at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella from 2011 to 2012, fostering collaborative experimentation and broadening her understanding of artistic methodologies. This formative experience instilled in her a belief that “Earthly materials, as soon as they are grasped by curious and brave hand, awaken our drive to work them over,” mirroring the spirit of exploration championed by Gastón Bachelard.
A pivotal moment arrived in 2013 when Sissia undertook a residency at Banff Centre in Canada—a transformative encounter that exposed her to diverse cultural perspectives and challenged her preconceived notions about artistic process. This immersive experience solidified her dedication to pushing boundaries and experimenting with unconventional formats, notably incorporating scrolls as exhibition devices and rice paper as her preferred surface. Her work embodies the Zen Buddhist principle of mindfulness—the practice of cultivating awareness of the present moment without judgment—reflecting a broader artistic impulse toward exploring the intersection between sensory perception and psychological consciousness.
Her artistic style distinguishes itself from conventional representational painting, prioritizing textural exploration and subtle tonal variations over precise depiction. She meticulously renders landscapes and organic forms—often capturing scenes from the Argentine Pampas—employing graphite pencils with painstaking precision. Her drawings aren’t intended as mere visual records but rather as conduits for accessing inner reflection—a deliberate effort to translate psychological experience into tangible artistic form. The resulting images possess a quiet beauty, imbued with an atmosphere of stillness and contemplation that resonates deeply with viewers.
Throughout her career, Sissia has garnered recognition within the contemporary Argentine art scene through solo exhibitions in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Chicago, and participation in collective displays across Mexico City, Miami, Barcelona, Lima, Basel, Bogotá, and internationally acclaimed fairs like Art Basel and Expo Chicago. Her monograph “Mental Landscape” (2016) meticulously documented her artistic trajectory—a testament to her unwavering dedication to capturing the essence of meditative states through graphite drawings. Jerome Silbergeld’s assertion that "Drawing is not merely a means of representation but a graphic action capable of enabling certain states of consciousness close to meditation" encapsulates Sissia's core belief and informs her distinctive aesthetic.
Her artistic influences extend beyond philosophical thought, encompassing the legacy of masters like Pompeo Mariani—whose impressionistic landscapes capture the ethereal beauty of light—and Camillo Mariani—a sculptor who fused Renaissance and Baroque styles—demonstrating a profound engagement with artistic tradition. Her ongoing exploration of drawing as meditation continues to propel her creative endeavors, cementing Mariana Sissia’s place as a significant voice within the realm of contemporary Argentine art.
