“16.30 Santa Marta”

Artist: Rosana Auqué
Year: 2021
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 100 x 100 Cms

About the Artwork

16:30 Santa Marta captures a precise and fleeting moment in time: the instant when the Caribbean sun still shines with intensity, fully present, yet already leaning toward disappearance. At 4:30 p.m., the light over Santa Marta becomes dense, expansive, and emotionally charged. It is not the quiet ending of the day, but rather its last declaration of strength.

This painting belongs to a long-term body of work in which Rosana Auqué observes the sky not as a backdrop, but as a living presence. The sky is approached as a constant companion—always there, always offering something new, yet often overlooked. In this series, the artist paints the sky exactly as it appears at a specific moment of the day, transforming time into a visual experience.

Santa Marta, with its unique geography where sea, mountains, and heat converge, intensifies this encounter. The sky does not simply reflect light; it absorbs the weight of the day, the humidity of the air, and the collective gaze of those who pause to look upward.

Time, Light, and Presence

In 16:30 Santa Marta, time is not symbolic—it is exact. The title functions as a timestamp rather than a metaphor. This precision is essential to the work: the painting does not attempt to represent a sunset, but this sunset, at this hour, in this place.

The light is expansive and generous, filling the canvas without hierarchy. There is no central focal point, no narrative imposed. Instead, the viewer is invited into a state of attention. The sky offers itself fully, without asking anything in return. It gives, and it keeps giving.

This approach reflects the artist’s belief that the sky is one of the most profound expressions of generosity in nature—constantly present, endlessly changing, and open to anyone willing to look.

The Sky as a Silent Witness

For years, Rosana Auqué has described the sky as a form of silent companionship. In moments of doubt, joy, or stillness, the sky remains—steady, patient, and vast. This painting emerges from that relationship.

The work is not illustrative. It does not seek to describe Santa Marta geographically, but emotionally. The city exists through light, warmth, and atmosphere. The sky becomes a mirror for inner states: contemplation, openness, and trust.

Technique and Materiality

Painted in oil on canvas, 16:30 Santa Marta uses material depth to convey luminosity. The surface holds layers of color that suggest movement without literal depiction. The brushwork allows the light to breathe, creating subtle transitions rather than sharp contrasts.

The square format (100 × 100 cm) reinforces balance and presence. There is no vertical or horizontal dominance—only immersion. The viewer stands before the sky, not above it or below it.

An Invitation to Look Up

At its core, 16:30 Santa Marta is an invitation. It asks the viewer to pause, to look up, and to remember that wonder is often available without effort. The sky does not demand attention—it simply waits.

For those who dare to look, and for those who dare to ask, the sky always responds with something new.