“My lights”
Artist: Rosana Auqué
Year: 2022
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 76 x 76 cm
Price: USD $5,000
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My Lights – A Painting About Becoming Part of the City
“My Lights” emerges from a moment of transition, when a personal dream begins to take shape in reality. Created in 2022, this work reflects the early emotional landscape of arriving in New York—not yet fully settled, but already deeply connected to its rhythm, its scale, and its silent intensity.
The painting does not attempt to represent the city literally. Instead, it translates the experience of inhabiting it: the sensation of being surrounded by countless lives, each one illuminated, each one moving with its own purpose. The city becomes a constellation, and the individual becomes one more light within it.
There is a quiet recognition in the work. Not of arrival as an endpoint, but of presence. Of being there, inside the unfolding of something larger.
Material, Light, and the Presence of Gold
Executed in acrylic and gold on canvas, “My Lights” incorporates metallic elements not as ornament, but as a structural part of the composition. Gold functions here as a carrier of light—something that shifts depending on the viewer’s position, the ambient environment, and the time of day.
This material choice reinforces the central idea of the piece: light is not fixed. It is relational. It exists through interaction.
The surface of the painting holds multiple layers, suggesting depth without relying on perspective. Instead, it invites a slower reading, where forms appear gradually, almost as if emerging from within the canvas itself.
New York as an Inner Landscape
The City Beyond Representation
Rather than depicting architecture or recognizable landmarks, “My Lights” approaches New York as an internalized space. What matters is not what the city looks like, but how it feels to exist within it.
The work captures a state of awareness: being one among many, yet distinctly present. A sense of individuality that does not oppose the collective, but coexists with it.
The Multiplicity of Human Presence
Each luminous gesture within the painting can be understood as a fragment of life—an energy, a story, a movement. Together, they form a field of coexistence, where no single element dominates, yet all contribute to the whole.
This multiplicity echoes the lived experience of the city: layered, simultaneous, and constantly shifting.
A Work About Belonging Without Possession
“My Lights” does not claim the city. It does not attempt to define it or capture it entirely. Instead, it situates the artist—and by extension, the viewer—within it.
There is a subtle humility in this gesture. The recognition that belonging is not about ownership, but about participation.
The painting becomes a space where presence is enough.
Frequently Asked Questions about “My Lights”
What is the meaning behind “My Lights”?
“My Lights” reflects the experience of arriving in New York and becoming aware of oneself as part of a larger collective. The lights symbolize individual lives coexisting within the vastness of the city.
Why does the painting use gold?
Gold is used to convey light as something dynamic and relational. It changes depending on how the work is viewed, reinforcing the idea that perception is never fixed.
Is this painting part of a specific series?
While it relates conceptually to works exploring connection and presence, “My Lights” stands as an independent reflection on the experience of inhabiting a new city.
What does the title “My Lights” refer to?
The title suggests both intimacy and plurality. It speaks of recognizing external lights—the city, others—and also an internal light, a sense of self within that environment.
Is the artwork available for acquisition?
Availability may vary. For current status, it is recommended to consult the official page of the artwork: